The All Progressives Congress (APC) has placed geographical limits on the participation of ministers and other political appointees in its 2027 presidential campaign, directing them to mobilise support within their states of origin.
The new arrangement, contained in a directive issued on November 3, requires affected officials to restrict their attendance at party rallies to their respective home states, while concentrating on mobilisation at polling-unit, ward and local government levels.
Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, signed the circular, which also instructs campaign directorates to operate according to their approved work plans and budgets rather than deploy personnel to events outside their designated responsibilities.
The restriction extends to members of the party’s National Working Committee, although the national chairman, secretary, women’s leader, youth leader and organising secretary have been exempted to enable them to perform wider campaign duties across the country.
The directive comes amid preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with President Bola Tinubu having indicated that he would attend campaign rallies in only 12 states because of his official engagements.
The states listed in the campaign timetable are Kaduna, Rivers, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos, where the grand finale is scheduled for January 9, 2027.
Tinubu had disclosed the arrangement during the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on October 14, asking party leaders to take responsibility for coordinating campaign activities across the country.
Beyond restricting the movements of senior government officials, the latest directive also seeks to give legislative candidates greater prominence at campaign events.
Candidates seeking seats in state assemblies, the House of Representatives and the Senate are expected to have more opportunities to address voters and present their programmes, rather than have national political figures dominate the rallies.
The campaign council has directed its various directors to circulate the new guidelines among their subordinates and ensure that the instructions are implemented.
New Daily Prime reported the development, noting that the directive is part of the party’s efforts to reorganise its campaign operations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
