Tinubu suffers gaffe, refers to himself as governor at APC campaign council inauguration

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday referred to himself as a governor while speaking at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council for the 2027 election in Abuja.

Tinubu, who is seeking re-election for a second term, made the remark while acknowledging party leaders and members of the campaign council at the event held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.

“Distinguished leaders of our party, all the party members, presidential campaign council, I’ve seen my friend here that I must thank. And next will be the recognition of the director general of the presidential campaign council that we bring Governor Bola Tinubu back for second time,” he said.

The president appeared to mistakenly refer to himself as a governor rather than a president while speaking about his bid for another four-year term.

The APC inaugurated the campaign council as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 presidential election, scheduled for January 16.

Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima are the chairman and vice-chairman of the council, respectively, while Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara, serves as director-general.

The council comprises party leaders, government officials and political figures from different parts of the country.

Among its members are Nentawe Yilwatda, APC national chairman; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives; and Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president.

The campaign structure also includes politicians from other parties, including Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun state and a member of Accord.

The inclusion of politicians from different parties reflects the cross-party alliances shaping preparations for the 2027 election.

Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election on the APC platform, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).

He is expected to face opposition figures, including Atiku and Obi, in his bid for a second term.

The presidential and national assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections would be held on February 6, 2027, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).