President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday inaugurated the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general election, saying the party is united and ready to renew its covenant with Nigerians.
The inauguration ceremony was held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
President Tinubu charged members of the council and party leaders to demonstrate unity, commitment and dedication ahead of the campaign, while ensuring governance remains on track.
He expressed confidence in the council’s ability to deliver, noting that discipline and shared purpose would be critical to success.
“As I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude and spirit full of resolve, it is my honour to inaugurate the presidential campaign council of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 General Election. I thank all of you for the last election, but no one gets credit for an incomplete assignment until you deliver the next election, until you deliver your electoral wards, until you deliver the votes,” the President said.
President Tinubu acknowledged the advice of the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who urged him not to allow the rigours of the campaign to distract him from governance.
Uzodimma, in his remarks, assured the President that governors and other party leaders would take the campaign message to Nigerians.
The President said the advice was timely, assuring that while the PCC would intensify political mobilisation, his administration would remain focused on delivering on its promises.
“However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas. We have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in and invest for the future of our children,” he said.
He urged members of the council to conduct the campaign responsibly, engage Nigerians constructively and highlight the achievements and programmes of the administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
President Tinubu commended Vice President Kashim Shettima for his speech, describing it as excellent and patriotic.
He also lauded Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, for their role in addressing the Atlantic Ocean encroachment during his tenure as Lagos governor.
“There is a limit, but there is no limit in daring. We dared the Atlantic Ocean, and the result is the Atlantic City in Lagos,” he said.
In his remarks, Vice President Shettima commended President Tinubu’s courage in deepening democracy, recalling his support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2007 to contest on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria.
Shettima criticised Atiku for belittling the Office of the President.
“You can call him Bola, if you like, call him Adekunle, but he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Shettima said.
He also faulted the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Movement, Peter Obi, for peddling what he described as bogus statistics and comparing Nigeria with other countries without context.