Presidency reacts to criticism over adding FIRS boss and Minister of defense to campaign council
Presidency reacts to criticism over adding FIRS boss and Minister of defense to campaign council
The Presidency has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council list for the 2027 election will be adjusted where necessary, but denied that the list has been withdrawn or subjected to a wholesale review.
Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, made this known on Wednesday, August 26, during an interview on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily.
Dare was responding to reports that the APC had withdrawn the list following controversy over the inclusion and exclusion of some party leaders and other political figures including the Nigeria Revenue Service boss and the Defense Minister.
He said the list remained valid, stressing that the party was yet to constitute all the subcommittees that would make up the campaign structure.
"As it is with every other list, there's a room for subcommittees. Those subcommittees have not been formed, and so many other names will come into that subcommittee," Dare said.
"So that list has not been withdrawn. The APC has issued a statement to that effect yesterday, that list stands. But of course, there will be adjustments.
The list is not cast in stone, just like every other list."
The APC had on Tuesday rejected reports that its 2027 presidential campaign council list had been withdrawn.
The list, announced over the weekend, named President Tinubu as chairman of the council, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda as vice chairmen.
Former Zamfara State Governor and Senator, Abdul'aziz Yari, was named Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was designated secretary.
Asked whether the list was therefore open to review, Dare avoided the term "review", describing the expected changes instead as adjustments.
"Not a review, just adjustments where necessary," he said.
When pressed on whether his reluctance to use the word "review" meant the list was indeed being reconsidered, the presidential aide maintained that the expected changes did not amount to a comprehensive overhaul.
"Review is wholesale, this is not wholesale," Dare said.
He explained that the creation of additional subcommittees would provide room for more party members and political stakeholders to participate in the campaign structure.
- Linda Ikeji's Blog Original article
