BREAKING: Ekwunife Leads Tinubu’s Re-election Campaign in South-East as Zonal Director

By Our Correspondent

Senator Uche Ekwunife has been appointed Zonal Director for the South-East in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election.

Ekwunife, who hails from Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, will coordinate the APC presidential campaign across the five South-East states as the party intensifies preparations for the January 2027 election.

Her appointment places her at the centre of the APC’s campaign efforts in a region where the 2027 presidential contest is expected to be closely watched, particularly given the strong political presence of the 2027 Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi.

Ekwunife’s appointment gives the APC a prominent political figure from Anambra State the responsibility of coordinating its presidential campaign in the South-East, a region where the contest is expected to attract intense political attention ahead of the 2027 election.

The composition of the APC Presidential Campaign Council was announced on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy and Coordinating Director for Media and Strategic Communication of the campaign council.

President Tinubu will serve as chairman of the council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, will serve as vice chairmen.

Former Zamfara State governor and Senator representing Zamfara West, Abdulaziz Yari, was named Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary.

APC National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, and Hadiza Bala-Usman were named deputy and assistant secretaries respectively.

The campaign council will also have an advisory body comprising former APC National Chairman Bisi Akande; veteran journalist and politician Segun Osoba; former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha; former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu; and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were appointed deputy director-generals for the southern and northern parts of the country.

They will work with Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau in the two zones.

Former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole will serve as deputy director-general in charge of mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, will oversee administration as deputy director-general.

James Faleke, who played a prominent role in the APC’s 2022/2023 presidential campaign, returns as deputy director-general in charge of election planning, coordination and monitoring.

He will work with the zonal directors, including Senator Olushola Adeyeye in the South-West, Ngozi Olejeme in the South-South, Ekwunife in the South-East, Muntaqha Rabe in the North-West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso in the North-Central and Senator Sani Danladi in the North-East.

Stella Okotete, Abdullahi Garba Ramat and Audu Maikori will serve as secretaries of the election planning directorate.

The legal directorate will be headed by Muiz Adeyemi Banire, while Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala will serve as deputies.

For media and strategic communication, Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris will serve as coordinating director, alongside Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu.

Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka were appointed coordinating deputy directors in the media directorate.

The council also named five spokespersons led by Alake, with Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda as members of the team.

Onanuga said President Tinubu had charged members of the campaign council to work tirelessly to secure the APC’s victory in the 2027 presidential election.

He said the President also urged leaders of the various directorates to reach out to other party members who were not formally listed but could contribute to the campaign.

According to Onanuga, Tinubu said his administration had “delivered on our campaign promises” and put Nigeria on the path of economic progress.

The President was quoted as saying the country was “out of the dark tunnel” and approaching the benefits of a prosperous economy.

“As we march into the campaign season, we have many achievements to trumpet—let us confidently showcase our record and inspire hope in every corner of our nation,” Tinubu said.

He added: “Let us soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards.”