With just under two weeks to go before the presidential campaigns for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections officially begin, major political parties are ramping up discussions on appointing campaign directors-general. Several former governors are emerging as leading candidates for these crucial positions.
Reports suggest that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is contemplating former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to oversee President Bola Tinubu’s re-election efforts.
Simultaneously, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) appears to be leaning towards former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, to spearhead the presidential campaign for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Other parties like the Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) are also deepening their internal discussions regarding their campaign teams.
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Party representatives have indicated that they plan to reveal their choices for campaign directors-general and campaign council members before August 19, the date designated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the start of presidential campaigns.
Significant Position
In any presidential race, the role of Campaign Director-General (DG) is viewed as essential, second only to the candidate and their running mate.
Besides managing campaign activities, the DG handles nationwide mobilisation, coordinates campaign structures across the six geopolitical zones, manages stakeholder relations within the party, oversees fundraising, directs media strategies, and ensures the party’s manifesto is effectively communicated to voters.
Intense Competition
As President Tinubu aims for a second term, opposition parties are striving to establish more robust campaign frameworks to challenge the APC in 2027.
Political pundits suggest that the expertise and experience of those chosen as campaign directors-general will play a critical role in shaping the organisation, efficiency, and course of the presidential race.
Preparations are gaining momentum since INEC announced the timetable for the 2027 general elections, with August 19 set as the kickoff date for presidential campaigns across the nation.
