Cyril Mbah, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has taken the unusual step of reorganising its media and communications structure, restricting who can speak on behalf of the campaign to just three officials.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and signed by the Chief of Staff to the President and Deputy Director-General (Administration), Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Council said the move was to ensure more cohesive, disciplined and effective public engagement.
Under the new arrangement, only the campaign’s Director-General, Senator Abdulaziz Yari; the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake, as official Spokesperson; and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, will speak on behalf of the Council.
All previously announced persons who have acted in that capacity, the statement said, shall henceforth dissolve into the Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications as floor members without the capacity to talk to the media.
Radio and TV stations were advised to take note of the changes and act accordingly, with the campaign to delegate appropriate persons for appearances where and when necessary.
The statement did not give reasons beyond cohesion and discipline, but party insiders and political observers believe several factors may have forced the unusual move.
According to the party, “First, the measure was introduced because of the need to stop contradictory messaging. In recent weeks, different campaign spokespersons, surrogates and support groups have offered varying explanations on sensitive issues such as fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms, insecurity, and the party’s manifesto, creating confusion among voters and giving the opposition material to exploit in their campaigns.
” Second, the measure was intended to ensure message discipline ahead of the 2027 elections. With the campaign now in full swing across states like Ebonyi and Jigawa, the leadership may want a single, authoritative voice on policy to prevent off-script comments, exaggerated promises or unguarded attacks that could embarrass the President or contradict the official manifesto, tagged: From Reforms To Prosperity.
” Third, the measure was meant to ensure the management of high-profile rivalries and egos. Campaign councils often attract many ambitious politicians, former ministers and media figures who all want airtime. Limiting official spokespersons to three trusted figures close to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was seen as a way to centralise control and reduce internal power struggles over who speaks for the candidate.
“Fourth, the measure was seen as necessary due to the need to protect the President from gaffes and unauthorised leaks. By channelling all official statements through Yari, Alake and Idris, the Council can vet positions on court cases, INEC matters, opposition attacks and sensitive security issues before they reach the public.
” It will also help contain pressure from the media itself. Broadcast stations have reportedly complained about receiving multiple, sometimes conflicting, representatives claiming to speak for the campaign. The directive to stations to take note suggests the Council wants to end that practice and make booking and accountability clearer.
“Finally, analysts speculate that the move may be a response to recent controversies involving campaign surrogates attacking opposition figures such as Rotimi Amaechi and Atiku Abubakar in ways that distracted from the administration’s reform message. The campaign council may have reasoned that a tighter structure will allow the campaign to keep focus on Tinubu’s record rather than personal feuds.
“In short, while officially framed as reorganisation for cohesion, the decision is widely seen as an attempt by the APC-PCC to impose discipline, control the narrative, and ensure that only tested, loyal and coordinated voices define the campaign in the crucial months before the election.”
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