The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, confirmed the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Simon Lalong, as the Director General of its Presidential Campaign Council.
The APC Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, disclosed this to State House Correspondents shortly after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
He said, “We are here to see Mr President to brief him and to get his approval of plans that we are having regarding our campaign outfit.
“And once we have his approval, we intend to make major disclosure. We’re on the same page with the Presidential and the individuals who will play various roles in the campaign.
“The DG of the campaign is seated by my right here. Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State.
“We have a spokesperson in the person of Festus Keyamo. The deputy spokesperson is Hannatu Musawa. This is what we came to discuss with the President.”
Adamu explained that the choice of Lalong was based on his ability to do the work required to ensure victory for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in next year’s presidential elections.
“He has the ability to do it. The party leadership has seen that he is capable of running the affairs of the campaign outfit,” he noted.
Lalong, who is a Northern Christian, was unveiled amid controversy surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling party.
Prior to the announcement by the APC, there had been speculations that the choice was between Lalong and Adams Oshiomhole, former national chairman of the party.
However, as of Tuesday, Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, had said someone had been picked for the position, but consultations were ongoing for other positions.
“We have briefed the candidate and his running mate and inputs have been taken and our hope is that in the shortest possible time, the candidate will consult more with the party leadership and brief Mr President and get his input and then we will formally unveil the presidential campaign council,” el-Rufai had said.
“A decision has been taken on the director-general, but other positions in the campaign council are still being discussed. The president and the national chairman and national working committee will be briefed before a formal announcement.”
