The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports that it withdrew its list of members of the 2027 presidential campaign council, describing the reports as rumours.

Felix Morka, national publicity secretary of the APC, made the clarification in a statement to media houses this morning.

Morka said the party had not withdrawn the list, adding that any decision to alter it would be formally communicated by the APC.

“Those reports are rumours,” Morka said.

He added that any changes to the campaign council list would be officially announced by the party

• Collage of Rotimi Amaechi, and Omoyele Sowore

African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi has lashed out at African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore: “Close Your Mouth When Politicians Are Talking.”

The occasion was at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Sowore argued that politicians who had previously occupied public offices should account for their records before asking Nigerians to entrust them with power again.

Sowore specifically questioned Amaechi’s performance as Rivers governor and Minister of Transportation, while also taking aim at former Anambra governor Peter Obi.

Sowore said that politicians who had governed and failed should not simply return to seek power without answering questions about their past performances.

In response, Amaechi fired back at Sowore, challenging him to point to his own experience in governance.

The confrontation unfolded during discussions on Nigeria’s political future, fuel subsidy removal, transportation policy and the performance of former public officials ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The 66th NBA Annual General Conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” is being held in Port Harcourt from August 21 to 28.

The gathering provided a major platform for discussions on issues extending beyond the legal profession.

President Bola Tinubu has retrieved the APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council list for Readjustment to due to anomalies capable of embarrassing the campaign.

The list had elicited several reactions from both within and outside the party since it was made public on Saturday, with many drawing attention to what they consider unnecessary omissions and questionable inclusions in the list.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to chair the council, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, serving as Vice Chairmen I and II respectively, while former governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, is to serve as Director-General and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, will serve as Secretary of the council.

Issues raised about the composition of members of the council include the inclusion of those who many feel shouldn’t be there due to corruption charges against them, exclusion of those who should have been included because of their experiences and those whose names were omitted due to human error.

There were complaints over the inclusion of the former minister for humanitarian affairs, Betta Edu and former chairperson of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) board, Ngozi Olejeme.

Edu is the director, women mobilisation of the council while Olejeme is to serve as South-south zonal director for election planning, coordination and mobilisation.

Edu and Olejeme had cases of alleged financial impropriety against them while serving in public offices.

There are also those who, because of the sensitivity of their office, should not have been named in the committee but were included, like the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacheus Adedeji, who is to function as the deputy director, fundraising of the council.