The All Progressives Congress has described President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 as non-negotiable, while pledging to ensure peaceful and secure campaigns across the country.
The ruling party stated this on Sunday in Abuja during the inauguration of national and sub-national structures of the Directorate of Security and Intelligence of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, represented by the Deputy National Secretary, Prof. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana (SAN), urged members of the directorate to adopt the discipline, coordination and operational efficiency associated with the military.
Kana said the directorate had made significant progress ahead of other arms of the campaign council, stressing that effective organisation was crucial to achieving the party’s objectives.
“We have a lot to learn from the military — the discipline, the alacrity, the organisation. Even as we organise our campaigns, regimentation is very important,” he said.
Drawing a comparison between national unity and the party’s electoral ambition, Kana said the APC was determined to secure victory in the 2027 presidential election.
“One of my favourite statements from the military is that the unity of this country is non-negotiable, and now today I heard some of our generals saying that victory in this election is non-negotiable,” he added.
He charged the security directorate to ensure that campaign venues, access roads and other locations were safe before, during and after political activities.
“Before we leave, you must clear the path; you must confirm to us that the venue is safe. When we are there, you must ensure that we are safe and protected. When we leave, you must ensure that the paths and roads are secure,” Kana said.
He recalled the security and political challenges confronting the country before the APC took power in 2015, saying, “Our party came in 2015 and met the country in total disarray.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Defence and First Secretary of the directorate, General Christopher Musa, expressed confidence in Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that the immediate priority was to create a secure environment for the campaign.
“The return of Mr President is not an issue that we should even start worrying about, because God’s willing, he is coming back. The task before us now is to provide the enabling environment for it to happen,” Musa said.
He emphasised that security would be critical to the party’s campaign activities, urging members to work towards ensuring that political rallies and other engagements were conducted peacefully.
“We must do everything possible to make sure that Nigeria is safe and secure, and our campaigns are peaceful and safe, because I think that is the most critical aspect of what we do,” he said.
The Director of Intelligence and Security of the campaign council, Major General Sarkin Yaki Bello (retd.), who inaugurated the structures, cautioned members against using their positions to intimidate Nigerians.
“Our duty is to protect Mr President and the people, and not to threaten them, to preserve order, not to create fear, and to support a peaceful democratic process,” Bello said.
He identified Tinubu’s second-term ambition as the directorate’s principal political objective.
“What is at stake, gentlemen, is the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office,” he said.
The Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa (retd.), said the directorate had a responsibility to support an orderly electoral process through effective security arrangements.
“Without security, what you have is chaos, and chaos is not what we need at this time. And our job is to make the process safe and secure,” Famadewa said.
Meanwhile, a former Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman of Operations and Field Coordination of the directorate, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (retd.), disclosed that preparations for the campaign would begin immediately, with activities expected to cover all 36 states.
“The job is just starting. By this weekend, the flag-off will start, and we are expected to go to the 36 states,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated officers, the directorate’s South-West coordinator, Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun (retd.), pledged to translate their appointments into measurable results.
He said the officers accepted their responsibilities with an understanding that performance must accompany authority and accountability.
“We accepted our appointments with a clear understanding that responsibility must be matched by performance, authority by accountability, and commitment by results,” Adeosun said.
