2027: Why APC Is Limiting Presidential Campaign Spokespersons To Three

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has tightened control over public communication within its Presidential Campaign Council, limiting the number of officials authorised to speak on behalf of the campaign to three, in a move that has drawn attention to the party’s media strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development followed a series of controversial television appearances by Alwan Hassan, a spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, whose recent comments on government performance and ministerial appointments generated public debate.

On Tuesday, November 10, Hassan appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he sought to showcase the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly the introduction of Nigeria’s 112 emergency telephone number.

During the interview with presenter Seun Okinbaloye, Hassan challenged him to dial 112 live on air, insisting that Nigerians could use the number to request emergency assistance for medical, security and other distress situations.

“Take your phone and call 112. Nobody knows about this; we used to hear it in America: 911,” Hassan said.

He further encouraged the presenter to put the call on speaker, expressing confidence that an emergency response operator would answer and ask about the nature of the emergency.

However, repeated attempts by Okinbaloye to connect to the number failed, creating an uncomfortable exchange during the live broadcast.

The presenter subsequently questioned the functionality of the service, particularly after pointing out that other calls made from the studio were connecting.

Hassan maintained that the emergency number was operational, suggesting that the failure could have resulted from a network problem.

The incident attracted public attention, with questions raised about the government’s preparedness to provide reliable emergency response services.

Interestingly, TheCable later reported that its own attempt to dial 112 connected to the Lagos State Emergency Centre, highlighting the distinction between the failed live demonstration and the availability of the service in at least one location.

The restriction and the three authorised voices

Barely a day after the television appearance, the APC Presidential Campaign Council announced changes to its Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 11, and signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and Deputy Director-General (Administration) of the campaign council, the party restricted official public communication to three designated officials.

They are Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the campaign council; Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development; and Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation.

The statement said the reorganisation was intended to ensure “more cohesive, disciplined, and effective public engagement”.

It further directed that all previously announced campaign spokespersons would henceforth serve as members of the Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications.

The council also advised radio and television stations to comply with the new arrangement, adding that appropriate representatives would be designated for media appearances whenever necessary.

The affected spokespersons include Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.

Although the announcement came shortly after Hassan’s controversial appearance, the council did not expressly identify the 112 incident as the reason for the restructuring.

The ministerial appointments controversy

The 112 incident was not the first time Hassan’s television appearances had placed the party in a difficult position.

On October 22, during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, the APC campaign spokesperson made another controversial claim, alleging that some ministers pay billions of naira to secure appointments and subsequently seek to recover their money after assuming office.

Defending Tinubu’s handling of government expenditure, Hassan questioned the need for ministers to control budgetary allocations, arguing that the President’s direct involvement in spending decisions was preferable.

“The way Asiwaju is hands-on on the expenditure of our revenue is fantastic, and I love it,” he said.

He subsequently alleged that some ministers paid huge sums to secure appointments.

“Charles, a lot of ministers pay billions and billions, and you know, to get themselves appointed. The first thing they think of is how to recoup that money,” Hassan added.

The comments generated questions about the integrity of ministerial appointments under the Tinubu administration, particularly because Hassan did not identify the ministers allegedly involved or provide evidence to substantiate the claim.

The controversy prompted the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, to clarify the party’s position during an appearance on Arise Television.

Morka said Hassan was referring to previous administrations and not ministers serving under Tinubu.

“When Alwan Hassan said ministers pay billions to be appointed, he was not speaking about the current administration. It was in a historical context,” Morka said.

He maintained that appointments under Tinubu were based on merit, competence and the ability to deliver.

The clarification, however, illustrated the communication difficulties that can arise when party representatives make broad statements while defending the government.

What the restructuring could mean for the APC

The timing of the latest restructuring has inevitably raised questions about whether the campaign council is responding to the controversies surrounding its previous spokespersons or simply seeking a more coordinated communication structure.

Although the council has not publicly attributed its decision to Hassan’s interviews, the sequence of events has brought the spokesperson’s television appearances into the discussion surrounding the changes.

The decision to reduce the number of authorised campaign voices to three represents a more centralised approach to political communication.

Under the arrangement, the Director-General and two serving ministers will handle official public communication, while other members of the media directorate will no longer speak on behalf of the campaign without authorisation.

For a political party preparing for a general election, such an arrangement could help establish clearer lines of responsibility, improve message consistency and reduce the likelihood of conflicting public statements.

However, it also raises questions about how the campaign intends to balance centralised messaging with the need for multiple voices to defend its policies, respond to opposition criticism and engage different sections of the electorate.

The 2027 election campaign is expected to involve sustained public scrutiny of the administration’s economic policies, security situation, infrastructure projects and governance record.

Consequently, the ability of the party’s communication team to explain government policies accurately and respond to difficult questions will remain important.