With less than two weeks to the official commencement of presidential campaigns for the 2027 general election, Nigeria’s major political parties have stepped up consultations over the composition of their campaign organisations, with former governors emerging as leading contenders for the influential position of campaign Director-General.
According to reports from party sources, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is considering former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to head President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign structure.
Within the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Sokoto State Governor and Senator Aminu Tambuwal has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to direct former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential campaign, although party consultations are said to be ongoing.
The Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Democratic Coalition (NDC) are also finalising their campaign structures ahead of August 19, 2026, the date fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the official commencement of presidential campaigns.
Political analysts say the office of campaign Director-General is one of the most strategic positions in a presidential race, as it involves coordinating nationwide mobilisation, managing campaign councils across the six geopolitical zones, overseeing fundraising, harmonising media messaging and ensuring that the party’s manifesto is effectively communicated to voters.
For the ADC, Tambuwal’s experience is seen as a major advantage. He previously served as Director-General of Atiku’s 2023 presidential campaign on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Party insiders say he is expected to work closely with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is Atiku’s running mate on the ADC ticket.
Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and two-term governor of Sokoto State, formally joined the ADC in March 2026 after leaving the PDP. Sources say his familiarity with Atiku’s political structure and his coalition-building experience make him a strong candidate for the role.
In the APC, consultations have reportedly narrowed to Uzodimma and Al-Makura. Party stakeholders are said to be weighing political experience, organisational capacity, regional acceptability and religious balance before making a final decision.
Uzodimma, who currently chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum, is believed to enjoy the backing of influential party figures and is considered one of President Tinubu’s closest political allies. Al-Makura, a founding member of the APC’s legacy bloc, is also regarded as a loyal and experienced party strategist.
Labour Party officials say the party has already selected a Director-General but has delayed the official announcement while it completes the full campaign organogram. The LP plans to build its campaign around the structures of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which it describes as its strongest nationwide grassroots network.
The SDP says it has also completed most of its preparations and will soon unveil a “formidable” campaign team for its presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo. The NNPP has similarly entered the final stage of constituting a broad-based campaign council that reflects the country’s geopolitical diversity.
The intense consultations follow INEC’s release of the 2027 election timetable, which has effectively moved political parties from internal preparations to full campaign mode.
Analysts believe that with Tinubu seeking a second term and opposition parties attempting to build a united front capable of challenging the APC, the choice of campaign managers could play a significant role in shaping the direction, intensity and organisation of the 2027 presidential contest.
