By Ayo Kehinde
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled a 276-member National Campaign Council to coordinate its campaign for the August 15, 2026, Osun State Governorship Election, assembling an array of serving governors, National Assembly leaders, ministers, party officials and other key stakeholders in a bid to secure victory at the poll.
The announcement comes less than three weeks before the governorship election, which political observers regard as a major electoral contest capable of influencing the political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party said the composition of the National Campaign Council and its specialised sub-committees was contained in a notice signed by its National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru.
According to the party, the expansive campaign structure is intended to ensure effective coordination of campaign activities and maximise the APC’s electoral prospects across Osun State.
The APC named Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, as Chairman of the National Campaign Council.
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will serve as Co-Chairmen.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Kabir Masari, was appointed Deputy Chairman, while Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, will serve as Secretary of the council.
The council draws membership from across the APC’s national leadership, including governors, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), ministers, principal officers of the National Assembly, federal and state lawmakers, former public office holders and influential party leaders.
Among prominent members are APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga and several other senior government officials and political leaders.
To strengthen campaign coordination, the APC also constituted 12 specialised sub-committees with responsibility for critical aspects of the electioneering process.
The committees include Election Planning and Management; Finance and Resource Mobilisation; Contact, Grassroots Engagement and Mobilisation; Logistics and Campaign Management; Monitoring and Compliance; Protocol; Media and Publicity; Security; Youth Mobilisation; Special Interest (Persons with Disabilities) Mobilisation; Women’s Mobilisation; and the Secretariat Committee.
Governor Hope Uzodimma will chair the Election Planning and Management Committee, while Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, heads the Finance and Resource Mobilisation Committee.
Former Minister of State for Education, Hon. Felix Abdullahi, chairs the Media and Publicity Committee, with APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, serving as Secretary.
Other committees are headed by senior party leaders and public office holders expected to oversee campaign planning, logistics, mobilisation, security, communications and stakeholder engagement throughout the election period.
The party disclosed that members of the National Campaign Council and all sub-committees will be formally inaugurated on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Event Centre, Abuja.
The inauguration, scheduled for 12 noon, is expected to mark the commencement of coordinated campaign activities ahead of the Osun governorship election.
Morka said the council comprises “eminent Party leaders, governors, members of the National Working Committee, principal officers of the National Assembly, ministers, federal and state legislators, and other key stakeholders drawn from across the country to drive the Party’s campaign towards victory.”
He added that the establishment of the specialised committees was aimed at ensuring “seamless coordination and effective execution of campaign activities.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, August 15, 2026, for the Osun State Governorship Election, one of Nigeria’s key off-cycle governorship polls
