Matawalle Appointed to Lead Security Operations for Tinubu’s 2027 Campaign

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has been named Deputy Director, Security and Intelligence 1, for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.

The appointment was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday, 23 August 2026, by Queeneth Iheoma-Hart on behalf of the Ministry of Defence’s Information and Public Relations Directorate.

Key Responsibilities and Strategic Focus

In his new role within the campaign’s strategic command, the former Zamfara State Governor will be tasked with overseeing campaign security nationwide:

• Campaign Security Architecture: Developing and executing security protocols to safeguard candidates, party officials, and supporters during campaign rallies and nationwide events.
• Risk Assessment and Intelligence: Collaborating with national security agencies to conduct threat analyses and deploy risk-mitigation strategies across all states.
• Grassroots Stakeholder Liaison: Engaging local communities, traditional leaders, and youth organizations to reinforce the campaign’s security framework.

Reacting to the announcement, Matawalle expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership, pledging to leverage his experience as a former governor and current minister to ensure a peaceful and seamless nationwide campaign.