Presidency Speaks on Review of Tinubu’s Campaign Council

The Presidency has clarified that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council list for the 2027 election has not been withdrawn, but is undergoing necessary adjustments.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, made the clarification on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

Dare was reacting to reports that the APC had withdrawn the list following controversy over the inclusion and exclusion of some party leaders and political stakeholders.

He maintained that the list remained valid, stressing that the campaign structure was still being developed and that several subcommittees had yet to be constituted.

“As it is with every other list, there’s a room for subcommittees. Those subcommittees have not been formed, and so many other names will come into that subcommittee,” Dare said.

He added, “So that list has not been withdrawn. The APC has issued a statement to that effect yesterday, that list stands. But of course, there will be adjustments. The list is not cast in stone, just like every other list.”

The APC had on Tuesday dismissed reports that the campaign council list had been withdrawn.

The list, unveiled over the weekend, named Tinubu as chairman, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, as vice chairmen.

Former Zamfara State Governor and Senator, Abdul’aziz Yari, was named Director-General, while Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was designated secretary.

When asked whether the list was open to a review, Dare rejected the description, insisting that any changes would only amount to adjustments where necessary.

“Not a review, just adjustments where necessary,” he said.

Pressed on whether his choice of words indicated that the list was being reconsidered, the presidential aide said the expected changes should not be interpreted as a wholesale overhaul.

“Review is wholesale, this is not wholesale,” Dare said.

According to him, the planned subcommittees would provide opportunities for additional party members and political stakeholders to be incorporated into the campaign structure ahead of the 2027 election.

Dare also criticised the proposal by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027, describing the plan as a temporary measure that could worsen the country’s fiscal and market challenges.

Atiku had reiterated his commitment to restoring subsidy, while also proposing that crude oil be supplied to domestic refiners at preferential prices to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel.

But Dare argued that selling crude belonging to the federation below market value would create a revenue shortfall and reduce funds available to the three tiers of government.

“Who pays the bill? Selling federation crude below market price creates an immediate fiscal hole in the Federation Account, directly slashing allocations to federal, state, and local governments for schools, hospitals, and security,” he said.

The presidential aide further warned that preferential crude allocations to selected refiners could distort competition in the downstream petroleum sector.

“Preferential crude allocations risk creating artificial monopolies, destabilising smaller indigenous modular refiners, and violating the clear deregulatory provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act,” Dare said.

He also raised concerns that subsidised fuel prices could encourage cross-border smuggling if the price differential between Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries becomes significant.

“The return of smuggling: Any regime that creates a wide gap between Nigerian pump prices and neighbouring West African markets guarantees a return of cross-border fuel arbitrage, no matter how many ‘auditors’ are promised,” he said.

Dare added that the proposal amounted to treating the symptoms rather than addressing the underlying problems in the petroleum sector.

“This idea is an economic safari. Applying painkillers to a festering wound,” he said.

Atiku had earlier reaffirmed his position after distancing himself from comments by his media aide, Paul Ibe, who had suggested that any subsidy regime under an Atiku administration would be temporary and eventually phased out.

“I want to repeat categorically that when I said I would return to subsidy, I will! Nigeria is rich enough to look after the welfare of its citizens,” Atiku said.

Dare, however, maintained that such a policy would ultimately return the financial burden to government, reduce public revenue and risk recreating the market distortions associated with Nigeria’s former fuel subsidy regime.