With about two weeks to the commencement of national campaigns for the 2023 general elections, indications emerged, weekend, that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is set to unveil its much awaited Presidential Campaign Council.
A party chieftain, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to speak, said, “We are much closer to unveiling the council than some people think. The was to ensure that all interests are covered and move as one towards winning next year’s election.
While the full council is yet to be named, the Plateau state governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, was named as director-general of the campaign, with a former Edo state governor and former National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, named as deputy director-general.
Similarly, Minister of State Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, campaign spokesman; Mr. Dele Alake, a former commissioner in Lagos state, director, strategic communication; Mr. Bayo Onanuga, a former MD of NAN, director of media and publicity, and; Lanre Issa-Onilu, deputy director of communication strategy.
Others include Hannatu Musawa, deputy director of public affairs; Kehinde Bamigbetan, deputy director of media relations; Modibbo Kawu, deputy director of publicity; Mohammed Bulama, in charge of multimedia; and Seun Olufemi-White, deputy director, new media.
Also, the party is not unaware of the controversy raised by the Tinubu/Senator Kashima Shettima Muslim-Muslim ticket and is working to have a formidable team to drown the dust.
“We are making efforts to carry everybody along. We are reaching out to presidential aspirants and stakeholders across the country especially the South-East. We will do serious campaigns in the South-East,” one of the sources said.
Besides the same faith ticket palaver, the party is racing against time to have all its presidential aspirants’ line behind the party’s candidate and his vice, Senator Kashim Shettima.
So far, 10 of the 23 aspirants have declared their loyalty to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while 13 others have not demonstrated any overt support.
Those who have lined behind the Tinubu/Shettima ticket include Senator Godswill Akpabio; Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Mr. Dimeji Bankole; Governor Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa; Senator Ahmed Yerima; Senator Ajayi Boroffice; Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Mrs Uju Ohanaenye.
