The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally unveiled its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general election, but the announcement has already stirred political conversations across the country following the exclusion of several influential party figures who played major roles in previous election victories.

The campaign structure, announced on Saturday by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy and Coordinating Director of Media and Strategic Communication for the campaign, Bayo Onanuga, places the President at the helm as Chairman of the council. Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda will serve as Vice Chairmen, while former Zamfara State Governor and Senator representing Zamfara West, Abdul’aziz Yari, has been appointed Director-General. Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as Secretary of the council.

Also named to key positions are APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru as Deputy Secretary and former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman, as Assistant Secretary.

While the unveiling of the council was intended to signal the APC’s readiness for the 2027 presidential race, it has instead generated intense debate over the absence of several prominent politicians who were at the forefront of the party’s previous campaign successes. Rather than focusing solely on those appointed, political observers and party loyalists have turned their attention to a number of influential APC figures whose names are conspicuously missing from the list.

The development has reportedly triggered concerns among some party stakeholders over issues of representation, political hierarchy, geographical balance and the inclusion of strategic actors within the party’s power structure. These concerns are said to have prompted President Tinubu to order a review of the council’s composition, raising the possibility that additional names could be included in a revised or expanded campaign team.

Among the most notable omissions is Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, whose contributions to APC presidential campaigns over the years have been widely acknowledged. Keyamo served as Director of Strategic Communications and spokesperson for former President Muhammadu Buhari’s successful re-election campaign in 2019. He later emerged as one of the most visible faces of the Tinubu-Shettima campaign in 2023, serving as Chief Spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs. Given his role in shaping the party’s message and defending its candidates during critical political moments, his absence has raised eyebrows within APC circles.

Another prominent figure missing from the list is former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, who served as Director-General of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council during the 2023 election. Lalong played a central role in coordinating campaign activities across the country and was regarded as one of the key architects of the APC’s electoral strategy. His exclusion has therefore become one of the major talking points following the council’s unveiling.

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The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, is also absent from the campaign structure. Although his current position places him at the centre of Nigeria’s security operations, Ribadu remains a respected political figure with considerable campaign experience. His omission has generated speculation, particularly among those who believe his strategic expertise could have been useful to the party as it begins preparations for another presidential contest.

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is another influential APC stalwart whose name does not appear on the list. Bello was a significant mobilising force during Buhari’s 2019 re-election campaign and continues to wield considerable influence within sections of the party. Known for his grassroots political network and organisational strength, many expected him to be assigned a role in the campaign council.

Equally absent is former Minister of Aviation and APC chieftain Femi Fani-Kayode, who was one of the most vocal defenders of the Tinubu-Shettima ticket during the 2023 presidential election. Serving as Director of Special Media Operations and New Media, Fani-Kayode played an active role in the campaign’s media strategy and public engagement efforts. His omission has further fueled discussions about the criteria used in selecting members of the council.

The absence of these political heavyweights has inevitably led to questions about the APC’s strategy ahead of the 2027 elections. For many observers, the issue is not merely about individual appointments but about ensuring that the party effectively harnesses the experience, influence and political capital of those who contributed significantly to its previous electoral victories.

As reports of an ongoing review continue to circulate, attention is now shifting to whether the APC leadership will adjust the composition of the council to accommodate some of the notable figures currently left out. Such a move could help address concerns raised by stakeholders and reinforce party unity as preparations for the next general election gather momentum.

For now, however, the APC’s newly unveiled Presidential Campaign Council has achieved something unexpected. Rather than focusing public attention solely on the party’s campaign plans, it has sparked a broader conversation about inclusion, political relevance and the future role of some of the APC’s most recognizable faces. Whether these missing political heavyweights eventually find their way into the campaign structure remains one of the first major political questions surrounding the ruling party’s road to 2027.