APC unveils Uzodinma, Akpabio and Abbas Buni led by 276-member campaign council for Osun governorship election – THISAGE

By Ayo Kehinde

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled a 276-member National Campaign Council to coordinate its campaign for the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, bringing together a host of serving governors, National Assembly leaders, ministers, party functionaries and other key stakeholders in a bid to secure victory at the polls.

The announcement comes less than three weeks before the gubernatorial election, which political observers see as an important electoral contest capable of influencing political calculations ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a statement issued by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Sunday, the party said the composition of the National Campaign Council and its specialized sub-committees is contained in a notice signed by its National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru.

According to the party, the comprehensive campaign structure is intended to ensure effective coordination of electoral activities and maximize the electoral prospects of the APC across Osun State.

The APC has appointed Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, as the Chairman of the National Campaign Council.

Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni; Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will serve as co-chairs.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Affairs, Ibrahim Kabir Masari, has been appointed as Vice President, while Vice President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, will serve as Secretary of the Council.

The council draws members from across the national leadership of the APC, including governors, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), ministers, principal officials of the National Assembly, federal and state legislators, former public office holders and influential party leaders.

Prominent members include APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga and many other senior government officials and political leaders.

To strengthen campaign coordination, the APC also established 12 specialized subcommittees responsible for critical aspects of the electoral process.

The committees include planning and managing elections; Mobilization of finances and resources; Contact, grassroots engagement and mobilisation; Logistics and campaign management; Monitoring and Compliance; Protocol; Media and advertising; Safety; Youth mobilization; Mobilization for special interests (people with disabilities); Women’s mobilization; and the Secretariat Committee.

Governor Hope Uzodimma will chair the Election Planning and Management Committee, while Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will head the Finance and Resource Mobilization Committee.

The former Deputy Minister of Education, Hon. Felix Abdullahi, chairs the Media and Publicity Committee, with APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, acting as secretary.

Other committees are led by senior party leaders and public office holders who are expected to oversee campaign planning, logistics, mobilisation, security, communications and stakeholder engagement throughout the election period.

The party disclosed that members of the National Campaign Council and all sub-committees will be formally inaugurated on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at the Transcorp Hilton Event Centre, Abuja.

The inauguration, scheduled for 12pm, is expected to mark the start of coordinated campaign activities ahead of the Osun governorship election.

Morka said the council comprises “eminent Party leaders, governors, members of the National Working Committee, principal officials of the National Assembly, ministers, federal and state legislators and other key stakeholders from across the country to guide the Party’s campaign to victory”.

He added that the establishment of the specialized committees aims to ensure “seamless coordination and effective execution of campaign activities”.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Osun State governorship election for Saturday, August 15, 2026, one of the major off-cycle governorship polls in Nigeria