2027: APC Bets on Cross-Party Alliances as Tinubu Expands Presidential Campaign Council

2027: APC Bets on Cross-Party Alliances as Tinubu Expands Presidential Campaign Council

By Akin Alade

The All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to be adopting a broader political strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections, with its expanded presidential campaign council signalling an effort to mobilise influential political figures beyond the party’s traditional membership base in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The revised campaign council, which includes prominent politicians from different political platforms, reflects a strategy that places political influence, grassroots networks and state-level mobilisation at the centre of the ruling party’s preparations. The appointments of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo have particularly drawn attention because the three politicians belong to different parties.

Under the arrangement, Wike is expected to coordinate the campaign in Rivers State and the FCT, Adeleke in Osun State, and Soludo in Anambra State. Their inclusion suggests that the APC is seeking to leverage established political structures and relationships across party lines to broaden Tinubu’s support base before the presidential election.

The move also highlights the growing importance of political alliances in Nigeria’s evolving electoral landscape. Rather than relying exclusively on its governors, elected representatives and party officials, the APC appears willing to work with influential politicians whose local networks could help reach voters outside the party’s established structures. Whether these alliances translate into votes, however, will depend on the commitment of the individuals involved and their ability to mobilise supporters.

The arrangement has also brought the emerging Rainbow Coalition into sharper focus. Supporters of the initiative have presented it as a platform for uniting politicians and interest groups around Tinubu’s second-term ambition, irrespective of their party affiliations. Wike has defended the coalition, arguing that support for the President does not necessarily require politicians to abandon their existing political platforms.

However, the strategy could create difficult questions for the APC’s internal political structure, particularly in states where party leaders and governors expect to control campaign decisions. The involvement of politicians from rival parties may strengthen Tinubu’s national appeal, but it could also generate disagreements over local candidates, campaign leadership and the distribution of political influence.

For the ruling party, the central challenge will be converting the expanded council into an effective mobilisation network capable of communicating the administration’s record, defending its policies and persuading voters to support a second term. The campaign leadership has indicated that it intends to focus on the government’s achievements and policy agenda rather than rely solely on political attacks against opponents.

Ultimately, the APC’s rainbow approach represents a calculated attempt to widen the coalition behind Tinubu as the 2027 contest approaches. Its success will be measured not by the number of prominent names on the campaign list, but by whether the alliance can maintain internal cohesion, deliver credible grassroots engagement and secure electoral support across Nigeria’s diverse political landscape.