By: Odeh Favour Adiya
The ruling All Progressives Congress has debunked reports claiming that it withdrew the membership list of its 2027 presidential campaign council for review.
Speaking on Tuesday morning, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, dismissed the reports as baseless, insisting that any official adjustments to the structure would be communicated through proper channels.
Reacting to reports that the list was recalled over internal friction regarding inclusions and omissions, Morka stated, “Rumours are not news. When people are carrying rumours, that is not news. There is fake news, and there is real news.”
He further added, “Nobody will give any list at the moment. But if there is any reason to update it, it would be announced properly.”
The party had unveiled the campaign council on Saturday, setting up a heavy-hitting leadership structure with President Bola Tinubu serving as chairman, alongside Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, as vice-chairmen.
Former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, was named the Director-General of the council, while Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, was appointed secretary.
However, the composition generated controversy immediately after its release over the inclusion of serving public officials and individuals currently facing corruption allegations.
Notable figures on the list include former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu; former Chairperson of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund board, Ngozi Olejeme; Nigeria Revenue Service Chairman, Zacch Adedeji; and Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu.
Reports emerged on Monday that the ruling party was forced to pull back the list to resolve grievances surrounding the omission of key party loyalists and the controversial inclusion of appointees.
Addressing complaints from aggrieved party members regarding those left off the list, Morka noted that he was not the appropriate person to speak on internal political grievances over omissions.
The development has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders over the propriety of appointed public officers serving on a partisan campaign team.
Former Vice-Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, questioned the propriety of appointing senior public officials to the campaign organization, while former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, threatened legal action over Adedeji’s appointment to the council.
Meanwhile, military and defense officials appointed to the campaign structure defended their roles.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle both of whom were named in the council described their appointments as a call to higher service, assuring Nigerians that ongoing security operations and sector reforms would continue unabated.
