2027: Bago inaugurates 525-member APC campaign council

…targets two million Niger votes for Tinubu

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has inaugurated a 525-member campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the forthcoming general elections, setting a target of securing over two million votes for President Bola Tinubu.

The governor charged members of the council to intensify grassroots mobilisation and work collaboratively to meet the electoral target through disciplined coordination and continuous voter engagement across the state.

Speaking at the inauguration, Bago explained that the council draws its membership from across the political spectrum, including members of the National and State Assemblies, ministers, commissioners, special advisers, local government chairmen, councillors, directors-general, and coordinators, alongside key party chieftains.

He noted that the combined political influence and operational reach of the appointees alone could deliver more than one million votes for the President, but urged them to expand their efforts to surpass that baseline.

“If all will bring their votes, it would give us more than one million votes. But our target is beyond that. The ambition this time around is to bring over two million votes,” Bago said.

The governor also called on the media to maintain conflict-sensitive and balanced reportage of electioneering activities, warning against sensational reports capable of stoking political tension and disrupting public peace in the state.

He disclosed that arrangements had been concluded to formally inaugurate the North-Central Presidential Campaign mega office in Minna next week, noting that the event is expected to host top national leadership, including the President, the Vice-President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the APC National Chairman.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, commended the composition and leadership of the campaign council, expressing confidence in its capacity to effectively communicate the achievements of the Tinubu administration.

Idris stated that the APC will anchor its campaigns on verifiable performance milestones, particularly the administration’s economic and structural reforms executed over the past three and a half years.

He urged members of the council to place the collective interest of Niger State and party cohesion above personal ambitions, stressing that unity remains paramount to electoral success.

Accepting the mandate on behalf of the council, the Director-General, Ahmed Ibeto, pledged the team’s commitment to strategic planning, aggressive grassroots outreach, operational discipline, and full compliance with electoral regulations.

Ibeto stated that well-defined campaign operational structures will be established across all directorates, local government areas, wards, and polling units, assuring that the council will leverage the experience of established leaders while embracing innovative mobilisation strategies.