A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), who is also a commerce expert, Dr Sule Iko-Sami, has described President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign council as a reflection of inclusive leadership, saying it transcends party lines by bringing together Nigerians from different political backgrounds who believe in the President’s Renewed Hope agenda and the country’s development.
According to Dr Sule Iko-Sami, the campaign council list, which features members of different political parties including Governor Adeleke, Wike, and others, reflects President Bola Tinubu’s inclusive leadership and willingness to work across party lines.
“The campaign council list tells you that Mr. President is an inclusive leader. It doesn’t matter which party you belong. He believes in delivering for the growth and development of Nigeria. It doesn’t matter which party you belong. He has people in his government that are from the PDP and other opposing parties. It’s about Nigeria. Nigerian projects.
“The government is just trying to be as inclusive as possible so that every Nigerian that is relevant to every sector of the economy that is also relevant to respective society are part of the campaign so that we’ll be able to tell Nigerians this is Nigeria, this is a, this is a party for all, and every other party, it doesn’t matter which party you belong, if you believe in Asiwaju project and the renewed hope project, you should be able to be in the campaign train, and we should be able to deliver good for Nigeria in 2027 at the end of the day.”
Speaking on whether the APC’s decision to expand its coalition reflected concerns about its chances in the 2027 elections, Iko-Sami said coalition-building was normal in democratic politics, noting that the party itself emerged from a merger in 2014–2015.
He urged opposition parties to present concrete alternative policies rather than talking points, arguing that they must take responsibility for their preparedness ahead of the elections.
“In every polity, coalition is a conglomeration of people from different sections of ideas. APC was born out of coalition. So, we believe that there is no member of any political party in this country that has not joined the fray when we’re forming the APC in 2014-2015.
“And you can see the opposition parties are actually doing the same thing. They’re trying to come together, which is a good thing. A strong opposition will always make a better government, and every Nigerian understand that. The more we get an opposition of opposing ideas, not just talking points, opposing ideas, bringing alternative ideas, because I have not heard opposing alternative views about national policies of this government since when the opposition started. You only hear about talking points.
“So, if they can come together, provide alternative, and get into the debate, and tell Nigerians they have better views, now we’ll go to the poll and see, but from the record, from the antecedent, from the conglomeration, from the excellent history of our merger and what the government has delivered so far, you can see very well the opposition are jittery because they don’t have that strength.”
Addressing concerns that the inclusion of opposition politicians in the APC’s campaign council could sideline long-standing party loyalists, Iko-Sami described President Tinubu as an inclusive leader, saying everyone willing to contribute to Nigeria’s development should be welcomed, regardless of party affiliation. He cited opposition members’ support for Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, adding that all members should have a fair share in the party.
“Whoever understands the politics of Mr. President and APC believe he’s actually an inclusive leader.
“I’ll give you a typical example, just about, about 48 hours ago, my governor was actually in some of the trenches and most of the people that are there are actually from the opposition parties. They came and received them and he welcomed them. He didn’t ask them to leave their party, but they came out in mass, they want to support the governor of Kebbi State, that they are ready to support Governor Nasir for 2027 because of what he has done.
“The same thing with Mr. President. If the leaders or opposing members of the party understand that other people coming in are coming to make contribution, they’ll be adequate for the success of the party. They have no problem.
“So, this party is about everyone. If you believe, it’s about serving Nigeria, you don’t have to talk, you worry because other people are joining the party. We believe in the project of Nigeria. If you believe in the project of Nigeria, you don’t worry whoever comes into the party. Everybody gets his own fair share.”
Responding to questions on the political value of Nyesom Wike, Charles Soludo and Ademola Adeleke to Tinubu’s 2027 campaign, Iko-Sami said they would bring economic expertise, infrastructure credentials and regional political support to the President’s re-election bid.
He added that their influence in Abuja, Rivers State and the Southwest could help mobilise votes, stressing that political alliances can transcend party affiliations.
“Charles Soludo brings the economic strength he has been able to develop when he was able to relieve or save our banking industry. So, he’s already a darling in the marketplace.
“Governor Wike is a minister of FCT, and of course, the former governor of Rivers State. With the demonstration of infrastructure he has displayed in in Abuja, what he’s doing already and what he has done in Port Harcourt, I don’t need to tell you that he’s already an Abuja landlord and also a Port Harcourt landlord. So, he’s actually going to bring a lot of votes and support to Nigeria.
“And the other person you mentioned, Adeleke. Governor Adeleke, as I said, is the landlord of Mr. President. He’s the governor of Osun State, the birthplace of Mr. President. So, when you have such a leader who is even an opposition party governor.
“And most importantly, most importantly, the energy Governor Adeleke is going to bring from the Southwest is something that whoever is in politics understand that energy from wherever it comes from, if it’s actually for the support of the leadership we have of the party, it’s welcome. And that’s why we can justify those people eminently, are qualified to be able to support the successes of Mr. Asiwaju in 2027.”
Addressing concerns over the APC’s economic ideology and the possibility of a reversal of fuel subsidy removal, the commerce expert said the party’s economic policies remained consistent, describing recent government interventions as temporary relief measures rather than a policy reversal.
He said President Tinubu would continue introducing measures to ease economic hardship while sustaining reforms, which he argued had improved government savings and created fiscal space for infrastructure development.
“APC’s economic policy has been stable, consistent, and remain the same. Mr. President, because he’s a listening president, can decide to bring interventions. He did that by bringing the issues of CNG buses and several other things he brought electric energy, electric vehicles, and more.
“But as you know, the sustainability of the removal of President Asiwaju’s economic—and petroleum price subsidy is consistent, it has not changed. The government didn’t come out to tell you that they have actually reversed their policy, but they will continue to bring in intervention that will be able to bring succour to Nigerians.”
Responding to claims that the APC’s presidential campaign council favoured opposition figures over APC governors, Iko-Sami described the development as a victory for President Tinubu and the party, insisting that all alliances ultimately revolved around the APC. He said the ultimate goal was Nigeria’s survival and success ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I’d like to tell you that it’s a win for Mr. President. There’s no win for anybody. It’s a win for APC and win for Mr. President. Because whatever coalition you bring in, you have to come to the center, which is actually the APC. And I’d like to rest that by telling you that, how ever way you look at it, the very essence of the project of Nigeria is for survival and success of this great country, which is the ultimate aim of governance, and that is what we are believing in going to happen in the course of 2027.”
Favour Odima
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