The All Progressives Congress (APC) has named its National Legal Adviser, Barrister Murtala Aliyu Kankia, as Secretary for Legal Affairs on the party’s newly formed 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, giving him a central role in the party’s push to retain power.
The appointment comes as the APC builds out its campaign structure ahead of the January 2027 election, with former Zamfara governor Abdulaziz Yari tapped as Director-General overseeing political, security, mobilization, and communications operations alongside the legal team.
Kankia’s dual role — leading legal affairs at both the party’s national secretariat and now its campaign council — is meant to link the APC’s permanent institutional knowledge with the day-to-day demands of a nationwide campaign spanning all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
His responsibilities will include advising on compliance with electoral law, reviewing campaign materials and advertising, and preparing for disputes that could arise from the vote and its aftermath.
Party officials say the legal desk’s importance is likely to grow once ballots are cast, since litigation over results has become a routine feature of Nigerian elections. The campaign will also need legal guidance simply to keep its rallies, town halls, and grassroots outreach across thousands of communities within the bounds of election rules.
Nentawe Yilwatda continues to serve as APC National Chairman following the party’s March 2026 convention, according to the party’s website.
With the election now less than five months away, the APC’s move to fill out its campaign leadership — placing seasoned figures like Kankia and Yari in specialized posts — reflects how much modern political campaigns now depend on legal readiness and rapid response, not just rallies and voter turnout efforts.
