APC restricts campaign spokesperson role to Yari, Alake, Mohammed Idris after failed 112 demo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council has restricted official public communication to three party members.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Femi Gbajabiamila, deputy director-general (administration) of the campaign council, said Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals; Abdulaziz Yari, the director-general; and Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, are authorised to speak for the council.

The chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu said the changes were approved to ensure a more “cohesive, disciplined and effective public engagement”.

He added that all previously announced spokespersons would henceforth become members of the directorate of media and strategic communications.

“Radio and TV stations are hereby advised to take note of these changes and act accordingly. The campaign will delegate appropriate person(s) for appearances where and when necessary,” the statement reads.

The development comes less than a day after Alwan Hassan, APC campaign spokesperson, struggled to demonstrate the functionality of Nigeria’s 112 emergency number during a live television interview.

Hassan had appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, where he promoted the emergency number as an achievement of Tinubu’s administration.

He challenged Seun Okinbaloye, the programme’s anchor, to dial 112 to demonstrate how Nigerians could access emergency assistance.

However, repeated attempts to connect to the number during the live broadcast failed.

Although Hassan insisted the number was functional and suggested a possible network glitch, Okinbaloye questioned the explanation, saying other calls from the studio connected successfully.

Last month, during a live TV interview, Hassan also claimed that some ministers pay billions of naira to secure appointments.

Felix Morka, APC spokesperson, later clarified that the practice occurred under the previous administration, not during Tinubu’s government. (TheCable)