Tensions are reportedly mounting within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as some state governors make separate trips to London and Paris to meet President Bola Tinubu over dissatisfaction with the composition of the party’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
The meetings, which reportedly took place without publicity, have exposed growing discontent among some APC governors who believe they were excluded from key campaign positions or given roles that do not reflect their political influence.
According to a report by Daily Sun, sources familiar with the visits said several of the governors who travelled to Europe were either omitted from the campaign council list released in August or dissatisfied with the responsibilities assigned to them.
Rather than presenting their grievances collectively, the governors reportedly approached Tinubu individually, using the private meetings to raise concerns about the organization of campaign structures in their respective states.
One source familiar with the London meetings said the discussions took place without officials from the Presidency or the campaign secretariat present.
The individual engagements have, however, reportedly caused frustration among other governors who believe the dispute should be resolved through a collective discussion rather than separate meetings with the President.
Consequently, members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) are said to be planning a formal meeting with Tinubu upon his return to Nigeria, with the aim of resolving the disagreements over the campaign council and other party matters.
The governors are expected to request a review of the council’s composition, arguing that what they describe as errors in the appointments could undermine effective campaign coordination at the grassroots level.
Governors Seek Collective Meeting With Tinubu
Sources within the party told Daily Sun that the governors intend to insist on a second meeting with the President, maintaining that an earlier engagement before his overseas trip failed to resolve the outstanding issues.
The proposed meeting is also expected to address concerns about a political coalition that some APC members believe is operating against the party’s structures in certain states.
The coalition issue gained public attention over the weekend when Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, speaking on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, said there was no middle ground on the matter and that it would be raised directly with Tinubu upon his return.
The position reflects concerns among some APC governors about political arrangements outside the party and their potential implications for its organisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Progressive Governors Forum, chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, had earlier resolved that APC governors would not support any political arrangement outside the party.
The governors’ position has also been reinforced by a recent Supreme Court judgment on an election-related matter. Previous rulings by the apex court have established that elected officials who defect from the political parties that sponsored their elections risk losing their seats, subject to the applicable constitutional provisions and circumstances.
Campaign Council Dispute and Coalition Concerns Converge
Party insiders reportedly believe the campaign council controversy and the coalition question have become closely connected in the governors’ discussions.
According to the sources, some of the governors most vocal about the coalition issue are also among those who were omitted from the campaign council or believe they were given insufficient responsibilities.
The overlap has reportedly increased the significance of the separate European meetings, with some governors using the informal engagements to gauge the President’s willingness to address their concerns before a broader meeting takes place.
The dispute highlights the importance of state-level political structures in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, particularly as governors seek to maintain influence over campaign organization and party activities in their respective states.
With Tinubu expected to return to Nigeria shortly, attention is now focused on whether he will grant the governors the collective audience they are seeking or continue with individual consultations.
Meanwhile, sources within the Presidency reportedly say the President is aware of the governors’ concerns but has given no indication that the campaign structure or his relationship with the party’s state chief executives is under strain.
The coming days could therefore prove significant for the APC as its governors seek clarification on their campaign responsibilities and a common position on political alliances ahead of the next general election.
