2027: Tinubu, Atiku, Obi consider ex-governors for campaign leaders

With just two weeks to the start of presidential campaigns for the 2027 elections, political parties are busy consulting on their campaign teams. Former governors are seen as top picks to lead the campaigns for the major presidential candidates.

Sources tell The PUNCH that the ruling All Progressives Congress is considering former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign. Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress is set to choose former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, to manage former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s campaign.

Other parties like the Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Social Democratic Party, and Nigeria Democratic Congress are also in talks about their campaign teams. Party officials say they will announce their campaign directors-general and councils before August 19, when the Independent National Electoral Commission says presidential campaigns can start.

This rush to form campaign teams shows how important the Director-General position is. This role is seen as one of the most influential in any presidential campaign, right after the candidate and their running mate.

The DG will handle campaign logistics, mobilise support nationwide, manage relationships with political stakeholders, oversee fundraising, coordinate media messages, and ensure the candidate’s plans reach voters.

As President Tinubu aims for a second term, opposition parties are looking to unite against the APC. Political watchers believe the choice of campaign leaders will greatly affect how the elections play out.

Preparations are picking up speed since INEC announced the timetable for the 2027 elections, allowing presidential campaigns to start on August 19.

This timeline has pushed political parties from internal talks and candidate selections into full campaign mode. Now, the focus is on forming teams that can reach voters in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Even though many parties have introduced their presidential candidates, they continue to discuss campaign structures to create a balance in political, regional, and religious representation to boost their chances.

For the ADC, which is now part of a broader opposition coalition, the spotlight is on Aminu Tambuwal. Sources close to the party say he is likely to be named Director-General of Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 campaign, unless last-minute changes occur.

If this happens, Tambuwal will take on a role he held during the 2023 elections when he was DG of Atiku’s campaign under the Peoples Democratic Party. Atiku lost to President Tinubu after a closely contested race that also included Labour Party candidate Peter Obi and NNPP's Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Insiders believe Tambuwal’s familiarity with Atiku’s team and their long history together make him a strong candidate for the job. A source close to Atiku told The PUNCH that Tambuwal is the top choice to lead the ADC's campaign efforts.

When asked about the potential DG, the source, who wanted to remain anonymous until the announcement, simply said: “Tambuwal.” This source also mentioned that Tambuwal would collaborate with Atiku’s running mate, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, on the campaign strategy.

The source added, “Amaechi will work alongside Tambuwal, even though the former Rivers governor is the running mate of the ex-vice president.” This shows the key roles both men are expected to play in forming a united opposition against the APC.

While Tambuwal is set to lead the campaign efforts and political coordination, Amaechi is expected to focus on mobilising support nationwide along with the presidential candidate. Political experts say both bring a wealth of experience.

Tambuwal has been Speaker of the House of Representatives and Governor of Sokoto State for two terms. He now represents Sokoto South in the Senate. He is known as one of the country’s key political figures, building relationships across party lines and playing significant roles in coalition-building for elections.

He was a prominent northern politician backing Atiku’s presidential aspirations within the PDP before they both left the party for the ADC due to leadership disagreements. Tambuwal joined the ADC in March 2026 after leaving the PDP, where he had been a significant figure for years.

After his defection, he stated he would not seek another Senate term, explaining that stepping aside would help strengthen party unity and give younger politicians a chance to lead.

His past experience managing Atiku’s 2023 campaign is seen as a major asset, especially since the opposition aims to avoid mistakes from previous elections. Meanwhile, ADC chieftain Timothy Osadolor confirmed that talks on the presidential campaign structure are ongoing.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Osadolor said party leaders would meet on Wednesday. He expected a decision on the campaign Director-General afterward. “They have not agreed on a name yet but they are to meet this Wednesday,” he said, adding, “some names have been suggested.”

His comments suggest that while Tambuwal is the frontrunner, the party is still following its internal processes before making an announcement. These discussions also highlight the balancing act within the opposition coalition as leaders aim to incorporate different political interests while presenting a united front for the election.

For the ADC, the challenge is more than just naming a campaign Director-General. The party must also bring together politicians from various backgrounds into a single campaign structure that can challenge the ruling APC.

With Atiku leading the presidential ticket and Amaechi as his running mate, party leaders are expected to ensure the campaign council reflects Nigeria’s diversity while rewarding loyal members and coalition partners.

Tambuwal’s expected appointment is seen not just as an administrative choice but as a significant political signal about the opposition campaign’s direction and the calibre of leaders driving Atiku’s bid for the Presidency.

The ruling All Progressives Congress is also ramping up consultations before campaigns begin. Sources close to the Presidency and the party revealed that Tanko Al-Makura and Hope Uzodimma are the top candidates to lead President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s 2027 campaign.

While no final decision is made yet, insiders say discussions have narrowed down significantly, with Uzodimma gaining support from key party figures. The APC leaders are considering political experience, organisational skills, regional acceptance, and religious factors before making a final choice.

The campaign Director-General is expected to manage what could be the largest campaign operation in the country, given the APC’s hold on the Federal Government and its wide political reach across many states.

Party strategists believe this position needs someone who can harmonise the interests of governors, ministers, federal lawmakers, and party leaders, along with thousands of officials expected to join in the nationwide mobilization.

Uzodimma’s rise as the leading candidate is also linked to broader political strategies within the APC. Since both President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima are Muslims, party leaders are looking for a prominent Christian figure to lead the campaign, aiming to reinforce the message of inclusiveness.

The APC’s choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the last election sparked national debate, with various Christian groups raising concerns over religious representation. Although that ticket won, party leaders are cautious about maintaining the trust of Christian voters as the President aims for a second term.

A source from the Presidency told The PUNCH that Uzodimma’s selection would help balance religious representation while rewarding a key governor within the party. The source said, “At the moment, it is still unclear who will eventually lead the campaign organisation. However, Governor Hope Uzodimma is the person being tipped by party stakeholders to head the APC’s presidential campaign team.”

Uzodimma is one of President Tinubu’s closest allies and chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum, which includes APC governors. His role has made him central to several strategic discussions within the ruling party, marking him as one of its primary political coordinators.

Al-Makura, another respected party figure, is seen as a loyal member. He helped shape the APC from its earlier days and has maintained a close relationship with President Tinubu and other party leaders.

However, party insiders emphasize that discussions are still ongoing, and more names could come up before a final decision. Besides selecting a campaign Director-General, the APC plans to announce a broad campaign council including serving governors, former governors, ministers, lawmakers, and party leaders from across Nigeria.

For the Labour Party, the focus is on building on the success from the 2023 presidential election, when they performed strongly. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, confirmed that their campaign structure is almost ready.

He mentioned that they have a Director-General in place but are delaying the official announcement until the campaign team is complete. He said, “Our campaign structure is being put together. There is a DG in place, although it has not been unveiled officially. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to start reeling out names ahead of time.”

The Labour Party believes their strength lies in their ties with organised labour. Asogwa noted that they are working to integrate the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress into their campaign structure.

He stated, “We have always said that we have the biggest structure in Nigeria that any political party can have, which, in the past, the Labour Party did not harness.” The party aims to combine their institutional ties with the labour unions into their campaign.

According to him, “So, going into this election, the party has decided to weld together those institutional memberships with the mainstream party.” He expressed confidence that labour unions would provide a strong grassroots presence at every polling unit.

Asogwa said, “I can assure you that we are going to harness that potential during this campaign period.” He added that the unions are ready to deploy members as party agents across Nigeria’s 186,000 polling units.

The party thinks this setup will cut campaign costs. Addressing funding worries, Asogwa noted that they cannot match the ruling party financially but will manage resources wisely.

He added, “But for the campaign, the model we are adopting is quite different from the model that the APC or any other political party is adopting.” He emphasized they would not run an oversized campaign given their limited funds.

He also acknowledged that supporters would help with campaign costs. “Sure! Every presidential campaign comes with people who are willing to defray one or two costs.”

On insecurity, Asogwa urged the Federal Government to ensure a safe environment for campaigns. He recalled how the 2015 elections were postponed to allow the military to combat Boko Haram. He said, “I urge the government in place today to replicate the same thing.”

The Social Democratic Party is also finalising its campaign structure. SDP National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, told The PUNCH that they began preparations long before others.

He said, “We already have our strategy on ground long before now. That was why we became the SDP was the first to announce its presidential candidate among all political parties.” Aiyenigba assured that they would soon reveal a strong campaign team.

He added, “I can assure you, we are going to put up a formidable campaign structure in the characteristics of the presidential candidate.” Aiyenigba confirmed that financial resources are not their main concern, stating that grassroots support is crucial.

He noted, “No, as much as I agree with you that funding is important, money alone doesn’t win elections.” He cited Peter Obi’s impact in the last election, even without significant funds.

He said, “The most important funding support you have is the people.” He mentioned recent endorsements of their candidate by key political figures as boosting their campaign.

Regarding insecurity, Aiyenigba expressed that it actually strengthens their message. He pointed out that their candidate has been actively engaging with communities. “Adebayo is the only candidate in Nigeria today who has been traversing the length and breadth of Nigeria.”

The New Nigeria Peoples Party is also finalising its campaign council. National Chairman Major Agbo said the National Working Committee is set to approve nominees this week.

He stated, “Oh, we are working on it. The NWC is expected to adopt one (DG nominees) by Friday this week.” They are aiming for a diverse campaign team.

Agbo explained that while funding is vital, they need to move away from a heavily monetised political system. He said, “Our position on this issue of campaign funding always is that we must deliberately look for how to go away from this heavily monetised political system.”

He assured that they are not intimidated by the ruling party’s resources. “We are not bothered about it.” He believes that grassroots mobilisation will be key to their success.

Agbo stressed the importance of traditional methods in their strategy, saying, “We are trying to adopt the house-to-house, community-to-community and village-to-village approach.” They plan to use methods familiar to the people.

On the issue of security, he remains optimistic that elections will still take place despite challenges. “We saw it during the build-up to 2023.” He added that the situation often improves closer to elections.

The National Democratic Coalition also confirmed that they are still consulting on their campaign structure. NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, stated that they are carefully considering options for their campaign Director-General.

He said, “We have not decided on that. We are also meeting and consulting.” He promised that the announcement will come at the right time.