President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday inaugurated All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for 2027 general election, saying the party is ready and united to renew its covenant with Nigerians.
The Inauguration ceremony was held at State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
Speaking, Tinubu charged council members and party leaders to demonstrate unity, commitment and dedication as they prepared for the campaign while keeping governance priorities on track.
He expressed confidence in council and party ability to work together, stressing that unity, discipline and shared sense of purpose would be essential to the task ahead.
He said, “As I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude and a spirit full of resolve, it is my honour to inaugurate the presidential campaign council of All Progressives Congress for the 2027 General Election. I thank all of you for the last election, but no one gets credit for incomplete assignments until you deliver the next election, until you deliver your electoral wards, until you deliver votes.”
The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, acknowledged advice of Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State who counselled him not to let rigours of campaign distract him from governance responsibilities.
Uzodimma assured the President that governors and other party leaders would do their best to deliver the right message to Nigerians during the campaign.
Tinubu said advice was timely, noting that while PCC would intensify political mobilisation, his administration remained committed to delivering on promises and addressing needs and aspirations of Nigerians.
He said, “However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians even as you lead campaigns in states and local government areas. We have bills to pay. American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in and invest for the future of our children.”
He called on members of the campaign council to conduct activities responsibly, engage Nigerians constructively and highlight administration policies and programmes under Renewed Hope Agenda.
The President commended Vice President Kashim Shettima for his oratory and patriotic approach to national development, describing his speech as excellent.
He also commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu and his Deputy Obafemi Hamzat for contributions to success recorded during his term as governor of state, especially in taming encroachment by the Atlantic Ocean.
He said, “There is a limit, but there is no limit in daring. We dared the Atlantic Ocean, and the result is Atlantic City in Lagos.”
Earlier, Vice President Shettima commended President courage and conviction in deepening democracy, citing his support for former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of Action Democratic Congress Atiku Abubakar in 2007 to contest the presidency on the platform of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria.
Shettima berated Atiku for belittling the office of President, saying, “You can call him Bola, if you like, call him Adekunle, but he is President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Shettima also criticised presidential candidate of National Democratic Movement Peter Obi for peddling bogus statistics and often comparing Nigeria with other countries without context.
