From left: Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Tajudeen Abbas; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Wife the Vice President, Hajia Nana; her husband, Senator Kashim Shettima; President Bola Tinubu and First, Senator Oluremi Tinubu during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council held at Aso Rock Villa Abuja on Wednesday.
. As Wike, Soludo, Adeleke, others canvass 2nd term for President
. Admit govt’s challenges, APC chairman tells campaign council
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said Nigeria would have to dare challenges for the country to make progress.
The President gave the remark during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
The inauguration of the APC Campaign Council took place at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President recalled how the surge of Atlantic Ocean was confronted when he was the Governor of Lagos State, saying “We dared it.”
He believes Nigeria’s challenges must also be confronted, declaring that “we must dare for us to succeed.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima took a swipe at the former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, describing him as “the master of bogus statistics and incoherent economic prescriptions”.
Calling Obi “my very good friend”, the Vice President mocked his habit of comparing Nigeria with other countries, especially Bangladesh.
Shettima stated. “He seems convinced that a size 36 shirt tailored for Bangladesh will somehow fit Nigeria’s size 52 frame.”
He said Obi’s “fascination with foreign comparisons overlooks the peculiarities that distinguish one nation from another”.
According to the VP, “Governance is an art that demands mastery of context, whether social, economic, political or institutional.
“What succeeds in Bangladesh cannot simply be transplanted to Nigeria without accounting for the differences in our population, economic structures, institutions and national circumstances.
“A country of over 250 million people cannot be governed through borrowed statistics and economic prescriptions detached from its peculiarities.”
Shettima said he respected Obi but accused him of making a “bogus claim” about winning the 2023 presidential election without evidence to support the assertion.
“This is called delusion of grandeur. Our contest is with the politics of yesterday dressed as tomorrow’s deliverance,” he said.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has told the party’s Presidential Campaign Council to acknowledge the challenges facing the Federal Government while it makes the case for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
Speaking at the inauguration, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, said APC has no excuse oor reaaon not to win the 2027 general elections, given its dominant control of all tiers of government.
Uzodimma, who is also the Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and Director-General of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, stated this in his keynote address at the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.
He said the gathering was more than a campaign inauguration but a general assembly of the federation, with all progressive governors, members of the National Assembly, party chairmen and executives from national to local government, and elected council chairmen in attendance.
According to him, those present came for two reasons – to witness the take-off of the campaign and to tell President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in person and with one voice that they stand with him and are committed to his re-election.
Uzodimma said the make-up of the gathering speaks to the political reality where APC holds the Federal Government, resounding majorities in both chambers of the National Assembly, 31 of 36 states representing 86 per cent, and about 685 of 774 local government councils.
He noted that no party in the Fourth Republic has occupied such a strong position, adding that it did not happen by accident but because Nigerians have watched what the party is doing with power and many who once stood against it have concluded it is in the right course.
The Imo Chief executive said the governors are proud of what President Tinubu has done with the 2023 mandate, citing the courage to end petrol subsidy and multiple exchange rates on his first day in office, and the tax reform that came into force in January 2026 to ease burden on low-income earners and small businesses.
He said results have begun to show, with GDP growth of 4.43 per cent in Q2 2026, headline inflation easing to 15.39 per cent in August, S&P raising Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating in May for the first time since 2012, and the World Bank projecting 4.4 per cent average growth through 2028.
Uzodimma added that benefits are now reaching ordinary Nigerians, as resources once lost to subsidy now flow to the three tiers, while NELFUND has supported over 1.5 million students with over N350 billion, the Consumer Credit Scheme, Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer targeting 15 million households, the first phase of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway open to traffic, and the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme targeting 8,809 wards to bring 10 million Nigerians into productive activity.
He argued that reforms of this scale take time to mature and that the last three years were the hard work of laying a foundation, stressing that the question Nigerians will answer on January 16, 2027 is whether to build on that foundation or abandon it and start all over again.
Uzodimma appealed to President Tinubu not to allow electioneering to distract him from governance, urging him to leave the heavy lifting of the campaign to the governors, council chairmen, legislators, party executives and Renewed Hope Ambassadors who will take the message to polling units.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, and Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, joined members of the Progressive Governors Forum, (PGF), and other leaders of the ruling party at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
The three opposition figures were among the non-APC members included in the recently enlarged APC Presidential Campaign Council to clear the way for the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
The ceremony was held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja and had in attendance President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and other top officials of the party.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has pledged that Rivers State and the FCT will vote massively for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
He also described himself as the sole leader of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He said he was speaking as an opposition party member.
“For me, as an opposition party member, as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, there are not two leaders of the PDP.
“I’m the leader of the PDP, so I speak on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he said.
He revealed that he had learnt only that day, while opening a newspaper, that he had been named to coordinate Tinubu’s campaign in the FCT and Rivers.
According to Wike, “Simple, there is no too much work for me. It’s Rivers and FCT, and let me say and pledge, by the grace of God, Rivers and FCT will vote massively for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That is my job.”
Wike warned coordinators that the APC’s win at the national level would not excuse a failure to deliver their states.
He stated, “If you don’t deliver your state and the president wins, don’t say we have won.
“It is not a question of I am chairman of this, I am secretary of this, I am a member of this.”
Recalling his conversation with the Chief of Staff to the President the same vein, he said “If you don’t win in Lagos, don’t say we have won.”
On his part, Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, also expressed confidence that President Tinubu will secure a second term in office, urging progressive political groups across the country to unite behind the President.
The governor said the principles of national unity, security and shared prosperity informed his support for Tinubu.
“We in Africa believe in the unity of Nigeria. We believe in the security of Nigeria. We believe in the shared prosperity of Nigeria,” Soludo said.
He added that these principles were among the reasons his political group was supporting the President, whom he described as representing the three pillars needed for Nigeria’s present and future.
Soludo also called for greater unity among progressive political forces, arguing that the country needed a collective commitment to its development goals.
“I have called before that all progressives in Nigeria must unite. This is an opportunity that we must not miss.
“We must come together for this new Nigeria that we dream about,” he said.
The governor expressed confidence in Tinubu’s chances of securing another term, suggesting that a second term would provide an opportunity to accelerate the administration’s reform programme.
Similarly, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, said four years is not enough for the President’s reforms to work and has urged Nigerians to support his re-election in 2027.
“We must give our father, the President of this nation, time for his reform to work. It’s not easy. Four years is not enough,” he said, adding, “That is why I’m here to throw my weight.”
Adeleke, widely known as “the dancing governor”, said he could already “feel the victory coming in 2027.″
“Nobody can stop this movement,” he told the gathering. “We’re going to sing, we’re going to dance all the way back to Aso Rock,” said Adeleke.
He said Nigerians wanted action and not too much talking.
“We don’t have time. The work has begun. I’ve already started mine. Let us rise and make sure our president comes back for the second time,” he added.
The governor also asked Nigerians to keep praying for their leaders.
He stated, “Continue praying for Mr President. If he succeeds, we all succeed. And I know by the special grace of God, we shall get there.”
In his welcome address, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the presence of the leaders reflects shared commitment to the party, confidence in its collective capacity and determination to present a compelling vision for Nigeria’s future.
Yilwatda, speaking on behalf of the National Working Committee, (NWC) particularly welcomed President Tinubu as leader of the party and presidential candidate, saying his leadership places special responsibility on the council to organise effectively, communicate achievements and engage Nigerians.
He said the inauguration marks the beginning of an important assignment of bringing together the strength of national structures, the experience of leaders and the energy of members to build a coordinated and credible campaign for the 2027 presidential election.
On the party’s record and vision, the chairman said under President Tinubu, the administration has pursued major economic reforms that addressed longstanding structural challenges and established a stronger foundation for sustainable growth.
He said while progress has been made in the last three years, the council must also acknowledge challenges while explaining objectives, progress and continuing work, including critical infrastructure such as roads, power projects, gas projects, railways, ports, agricultural infrastructure and digital connectivity.
According to him, the council has the responsibility to explain clearly what has been completed, what is progressing and what remains to be done, and to show Nigerians how the investments and reforms translate into practical improvements in daily lives.
Yilwatda assured party members that every level matters, from national leadership to state chapters, local government structures and ward members, urging the council to provide direction, coordination and clear responsibilities for governors, legislators and campaign officials to ensure the message reaches every community.
For a better society
_______________________________
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
