.…No Credit For Incomplete Assignment Until You Deliver Votes, Tinubu Tells APC Campaign Council
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday inaugurated the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, declaring that the party is ready and united to renew its covenant with Nigerians ahead of 2027 presidential election.
At the ceremony held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, President Tinubu charged council members and party leaders to demonstrate unity, commitment, and dedication as they prepare for campaign, while keeping administration’s governance priorities firmly on track.
The President expressed confidence in PCC and party’s ability to work together toward its objectives, stressing that unity, discipline, and shared sense of purpose would be essential to task ahead.
“As I stand before you with heart full of gratitude and spirit full of resolve, it is my honour to inaugurate presidential campaign council of All Progressives Congress for 2027 General Election. I thank all of you for last election, but no one gets credit for incomplete assignment until you deliver next election, until you deliver your electoral wards, until you deliver votes,” he said.
The President also acknowledged the advice of Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who counselled him not to let rigours of election campaign distract him from his responsibilities of governance.
In his speech, Uzodimma assured President that governors and other party leaders would do their best to deliver right message to Nigerians during campaign.
President Tinubu said the advice was timely, noting that while PCC-APC would intensify its political mobilisation, his administration remained committed to delivering on its promises and addressing needs and aspirations of Nigerians.
“However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians even as you lead campaign in states and local government areas. We have bills to pay. American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in and invest for future of our children,” President said.
President called on members of campaign council to conduct their activities responsibly, engage Nigerians constructively, and highlight administration’s policies and programmes under Renewed Hope Agenda.
President also commended Vice President Kashim Shettima for his oratory and patriotic approach to national development, calling his speech excellent.
He commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, for their contributions to success he recorded during his term as governor of state, especially in taming encroachment by Atlantic Ocean.
“There is limit, but there is no limit in daring. We dared Atlantic Ocean, and result is Atlantic City in Lagos”, he said.
Vice President Kashim Shettima earlier commended President’s courage and conviction in deepening democracy in country.
He cited President’s support for former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of Action Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, in 2007 to contest Presidency on platform of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.
Vice President Shettima berated the former Vice President Atiku for belittling office of President.
“You can call him Bola, if you like, call him Adekunle, but he is President of Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Shettima said.
Shettima also slammed National Democratic Movement presidential candidate Peter Obi for peddling bogus statistics and often comparing Nigeria with other countries without context.
Earlier, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda said event reflected party’s shared commitment to entrench better Nigeria.
He declared that presence of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord Party, AP, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and Nyesom Wike, leader of PDP, to support President’s re-election was testimony to laudable policies of All Progressives Congress, APC.
APC Chairman urged Council to communicate President Tinubu’s achievements and policies with precision and to engage Nigerians with confidence, knowing that tremendous progress has been made in past three years.
He assured President that Council will canvass ward to ward, local government to local government, and state to state to ensure voters turn out en masse to re-elect him in 2027.
“We must show Nigerians how this investment and reforms can translate into practical improvement in our daily lives. This is substance of our campaign.
“A clear record, honest assessment of challenges and credible vision of future. I understand our members’ expectations as we approach next general election.
“Our strength depends on effectiveness of our national leadership, commitment of state chapters led by our generals, governors, organisation of our local government and dedication at ward level.
“Let coming election be contest of ideas, records, and policies and be conducted peacefully and with respect for Nigerian people, because we know we’ve done so much for Nigerian people, and Nigerian people always respect us”, he said.
Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, who is also Secretary of Council, Hope Uzodimma, assured President that his administration’s laudable policies and programmes would make PCC’s work easier, noting that campaign will be issue-based.
He acknowledged President’s courage in confronting myriad national challenges previous administrations had shied away from, adding that Nigerians were proud of it.
“First thing we are proud of is courage you brought to problems you inherited when you took office. Country was spending more money on petrol subsidies than on many of its most important public services combined. And system of multiple exchange rates rewarded few at everyone else’s expense.
“Every Nigerian leader before you knew that these arrangements could not last. You were only one who chose to end them. On first day of your administration and in full knowledge that it would cost your popularity, you did it,” he said.
Governor Uzodimma also lauded tax reforms, which, along with other reforms, drove economy’s growth to 4.43%, up from 4.23% year earlier.
“Nobody here pretends that these reforms did not bring some hardship or some inconveniences to our people, but institutions that measure economies of nations are now saying what we have been saying for some time, which is that Nigeria is on right course.
In their goodwill messages, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, expressed their commitment to ensuring that President was re-elected in 2027, to continue good work he has started.
Governor Adeleke electrified Banquet Hall with his famous dance steps, drawing cheers from crowded hall.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said that, as leader of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he supports President Tinubu because President has provided bold leadership and direction for nation.
“Previous administrations identified our problems, but did not tackle them. You have not shied away from tackling such problems. You tackled them from Day One,” Minister said.
Wike charged governors to win their states for President Tinubu.
Also in their goodwill messages, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Special Adviser to President on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, and elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakassai also called on Nigerians to support President for second term in office to consolidate gains so far recorded by his reform agenda.
