The formation of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for the 2027 elections has triggered internal concerns within the All Progressives Congress (APC), with party sources claiming that key stakeholders were not involved in drafting the list released by the Presidency.
The controversy has prompted a series of consultations involving President Bola Tinubu, APC governors and other party figures as efforts continue to resolve disagreements surrounding the composition of the council.
The PCC List Under Review
The latest development followed President Tinubu’s Thursday closed-door meeting with governors elected on the APC platform under the Progressives Governors’ Forum at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting was part of back-to-back consultations that began on Wednesday and continued on Thursday, with discussions reportedly focused on reviewing and reworking the controversial PCC list.
The list was released by the Presidency on Saturday, August 23, 2026, but subsequently generated criticism over the inclusion of some party figures, including individuals currently facing corruption charges.
Sources familiar with the consultations said the list had been reviewed, although the final changes remained subject to the outcome of the discussions and presidential approval.
How The Controversy Unfolded
The controversy began after the Presidency released the initial PCC list on August 23.
The composition of the council reportedly drew backlash within and outside the APC, particularly over the inclusion of some controversial party chieftains.
By Wednesday, consultations involving governors and senior party figures had begun.
The engagements continued into Thursday, when Tinubu met with APC governors at the Presidential Villa as part of efforts to address the concerns surrounding the list.
The discussions were reportedly aimed at reviewing the original composition and agreeing on possible changes before a revised list is published.
Why The Campaign Council List Became Controversial
An APC source cited in the report said key party stakeholders were not carried along in the process of putting the original list together.
According to the source, the President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters and some individuals within the Presidency were responsible for compiling the list without sufficient input from the party.
The source argued that the backlash that followed the release of the list demonstrated the consequences of excluding party stakeholders from the process.
The source added that Tinubu was handling the matter and that changes were expected following the two-day consultations.
What APC Sources Are Saying
One senior APC chieftain questioned why the party had allegedly not been involved in the formation of the council.
“Can you believe that the party was not carried along in the formation of the list?”
The source attributed the compilation of the list to the President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters and a few individuals within the Presidency.
Another source close to the APC governors said the list had become a major item on the agenda of the meetings and claimed that the original version had been deleted from the APC’s X account.
The source said a new version would be posted after Tinubu approves the recommendations arising from the consultations.
What Is Confirmed So Far?
The supplied report establishes that Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with APC governors at the Presidential Villa and that consultations had taken place over the PCC list.
It also reports claims from APC sources that the list had been reviewed and that changes were being considered.
However, the claim concerning the deletion of the original list requires careful attribution.
An APC source said the controversial list had been deleted from the party’s X account. But a check cited in the report found that the PCC list remained available on the X account of Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
The two claims therefore should not be treated as identical. The report supports saying that an APC source claimed the list had been deleted from the party’s account, while the cited check indicated that it had not been deleted from Onanuga’s account.
Where The Matter Stands
The PCC list remained under review following the meetings between Tinubu, APC governors and other party stakeholders.
According to the sources cited, proposed changes were awaiting the President’s approval before a new list could be released.
The process therefore had not reached a final public resolution in the account provided, with the composition of the revised council still dependent on the outcome of the consultations.
Why The List Matters
The controversy highlights the political sensitivity surrounding the composition of the campaign structure for a presidential election.
A Presidential Campaign Council brings together political leaders and other figures who are expected to support the organisation and mobilisation of a campaign. For the governing APC, disagreements over its composition can therefore raise questions about coordination between the Presidency and the wider party structure.
The reported decision to consult APC governors and other stakeholders suggests an attempt to address those concerns before the council’s final composition is settled.
At the same time, the competing claims over whether the original list was removed show that the status of the document remained subject to differing accounts in the period covered by the report.
What Happens Next
The immediate focus is on the outcome of the consultations and Tinubu’s decision on the proposed changes.
If the recommendations from the meetings receive presidential approval, the APC is expected, according to the sources cited, to publish a revised PCC list.
Until that happens, the composition of the campaign council remains unsettled, while the controversy over how the original list was prepared continues to raise questions about the role of the party and the Presidency in shaping the structure for the 2027 campaign.
