THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports that it withdrew the list of members appointed to its 2027 presidential campaign council.
News Point Nigeria reports that the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described the reports as rumours, insisting that any decision to alter the composition of the council would be formally communicated by the party.
Speaking on Tuesday morning, Morka said the APC had not withdrawn the list, stressing that reports circulating about its purported withdrawal should not be treated as established facts.
“Rumours are not news. When people are carrying rumours, that is not news. There is fake news, and there is real news,” Morka said.
According to him, the party would make an official announcement if there was any need to amend the list.
“Nobody will give any list at the moment. But if there is any reason to update it, it would be announced properly,” he added.
The clarification followed reports on Monday that the ruling party had withdrawn the campaign council list for further review, amid concerns over some of the names contained in the document.
The APC had on Saturday unveiled its presidential campaign council, with President Bola Tinubu named chairman and Vice-President Kashim Shettima designated vice-chairman.
APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, was also named a vice-chairman, while former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, was appointed Director-General of the campaign council.
Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, was named secretary of the council.
Other prominent names on the list include former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu; former Chairperson of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) board, Ngozi Olejeme; Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji; and Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Taminu Yakubu.
However, the composition of the council has generated controversy within political circles, particularly over the inclusion of serving public officials and individuals who have faced corruption-related allegations.
Edu, who served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was suspended by President Tinubu in January 2024 over allegations bordering on financial impropriety. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) subsequently investigated the matter, although the outcome of the probe has not been publicly disclosed.
Olejeme, meanwhile, is facing an ongoing EFCC investigation over an alleged N1 billion money-laundering offence.
The controversies surrounding the list have fuelled speculation that the APC leadership may reconsider some of the appointments before the commencement of full-scale activities for the 2027 presidential election.
Morka, however, maintained that the party would communicate any changes through the appropriate channels rather than allow speculation to determine public perception.
When asked about complaints from some APC members over the absence of several prominent party figures from the campaign council, the national publicity secretary said he was not the appropriate person to respond to such concerns.
For now, the APC appears to be maintaining that the list remains valid, with any future amendment expected to be formally announced by the party leadership.