The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has introduced new guidelines restricting ministers, political appointees and campaign council members to rallies organised in their respective home states ahead of the 2027 general election.
The directive was contained in a circular dated Tuesday and signed by the council’s Director-General, Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar. It was addressed to all directors and heads of directorates.
The circular outlined participation guidelines for the party’s presidential campaign rallies across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the council, the measures are intended to improve coordination and strengthen grassroots mobilisation as the APC prepares for its nationwide campaign.
It described the rallies as opportunities to energise the party’s support base and communicate the achievements of President Bola Tinubu to voters.
“Campaign rallies are intended to energise the base of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the states and zones, and to communicate the achievements of His Excellency, the President, to the electorate,” the circular stated.
Ministers Restricted to Home-State Rallies
Under the new guidelines, ministers and other political appointees are required to attend only campaign rallies organised in their home states.
“They are required to attend only the rallies held in their home states,” the circular stated.
The council also directed the appointees to concentrate on grassroots mobilisation across polling units, wards and Local Government Areas (LGAs), in line with its campaign structure.
Members of the Presidential Campaign Council were similarly restricted to rallies in their respective home states. They were instructed to focus on implementing the approved work plans of their directorates and strengthening grassroots mobilisation.
Directors and heads of directorates without specific responsibilities at campaign rallies were also told to concentrate on executing their approved work plans and budgets.
APC NWC Members Given State and Zonal Responsibilities
The circular directed members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to focus on party activities and mobilisation within their respective states and geopolitical zones.
However, the restriction does not apply to the National Chairman, National Secretary, National Women’s Leader, National Youth Leader and National Organising Secretary.
These officials were exempted from the home-state rally attendance requirement.
APC to Increase Visibility of Legislative Candidates
The campaign council also announced plans to strengthen the visibility of APC candidates contesting legislative seats during the rallies.
The initiative will cover candidates seeking election into State Houses of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Directors were instructed to communicate the guidelines to officers under their respective directorates and ensure compliance.
Tinubu Had Earlier Said He Would Not Attend Every Rally
The latest directive comes about three weeks after President Tinubu said he would not attend every APC campaign rally ahead of the 2027 elections, citing the demands of governance and the country’s financial obligations.
Speaking on October 14, 2026, during the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, the president urged members to take responsibility for mobilisation across the country while he focused on governance.
“You’ve warned me not to allow the rigour of the campaign to distract me from governance, I hear you. I am in full agreement with your decision. Nigeria needs more attention now,” Tinubu said.
He also told campaign council members that he would be unable to accompany them to every campaign event.
“So, you will excuse me from going everywhere with you, we have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” he added.
Tinubu, however, assured the council that he would make time to address Nigerians directly while campaign officials coordinated activities across states and local government areas.
Following his announcement, the APC released a nationwide campaign timetable covering the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Under the schedule provided in the report, Tinubu is expected to lead rallies in 12 states, including Rivers, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano and Adamawa.
