APC campaign tightens media controls after live television slip

ABUJA — The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has restructured its Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications, restricting official media commentary to just three designated representatives ahead of the January 2027 general elections.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Chief of Staff to the President and Deputy Director-General (Administration) of the council, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced that all official messaging would now be channeled strictly through top party and cabinet officials.

Under the new directives, only three individuals are authorized to speak on behalf of the campaign: Campaign Director-General Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake (serving as official spokesperson), and Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris.

“To ensure more cohesive, disciplined, and effective public engagement, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has made some changes to the structure of the Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications,” Gbajabiamila stated, adding that all other previously announced spokespersons would be absorbed into the broader media directorate as regular members.

Media advisory follows broadcast embarrassment

The campaign council explicitly instructed broadcast media networks to adjust their booking procedures, noting that the campaign will directly delegate appropriate representatives for studio appearances as needed.

The communications overhaul follows less than 24 hours after a contentious live interview on Channels Television featuring campaign spokesperson Alwan Hassan.

During Tuesday’s broadcast of Politics Today, Hassan touted the operational reliability of Nigeria’s 112 emergency response line as a key achievement of the Tinubu administration, challenging program anchor Seun Okinbaloye to dial the number live on air. Repeated attempts to connect during the broadcast failed, prompting widespread public criticism and political satire.

While Gbajabiamila did not explicitly reference the broadcast incident in his statement, the rapid centralization of the campaign’s media unit reflects a clear effort to enforce strict messaging discipline and prevent unscripted communications mishaps ahead of the upcoming election cycle.