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The African Action Congress (AAC) has asked President Bola Tinubu to approve the use of the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja, for a ceremony involving its Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections, while also requesting food, drinks and other logistical support for 5,000 participants expected from Nigeria and abroad.
The opposition party proposed November 11, 2026, for the event, saying the request was made in the spirit of multiparty democracy, political inclusiveness and equal treatment of political parties.
The demands were contained in a letter dated October 21, 2026, addressed to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa and signed by the party’s National Secretary, Oshiokhue Philip Ikpeminoghena.
In the letter, the AAC argued that granting its requests would demonstrate the Presidency’s commitment to fairness and ensure that public institutions serve Nigerians without discrimination based on political affiliation. Blueprint reports
The party also cited arrangements reportedly extended to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for a similar political engagement, insisting that opposition parties should receive comparable consideration.
The request places the use of facilities within Nigeria’s seat of government and the provision of public resources for partisan political activities at the centre of a debate over political fairness as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
AAC seeks approval for November 11 event
In its correspondence to the President, the AAC said it wanted to hold the proposed ceremony at the Presidential Villa as part of its preparations for the next general election.
“On behalf of the African Action Congress (AAC), I respectfully write to request approval to hold the inauguration ceremony of our Presidential Campaign Council on the 11th of November 2026 at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja, in preparation for the 2027 general elections,” the letter stated.
Beyond seeking access to the venue, the party requested the provision of refreshments and other logistical arrangements for 5,000 participants expected to attend the event.
The letter specified that the participants would include people travelling from within Nigeria and abroad, although it did not provide a breakdown of the expected attendance or an estimate of the cost of the requested support.
“In the spirit of multiparty democracy, political inclusiveness, and equal treatment of political parties, we also request the provision of food, drinks, and other logistical support for 5,000 participants from home and abroad at the event,” the party said.
The AAC added that the request was consistent with arrangements it said had reportedly been made available to the APC for a similar political engagement.
The party did not provide details of the specific logistical support it referenced or independently establish whether the same terms could be extended to other political parties.
Party invokes fairness and multiparty democracy
Explaining the rationale behind its request, the AAC said the Presidency had an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to political inclusiveness by considering the application.
“We believe that granting this request would demonstrate the Presidency’s commitment to fairness, equal access, and the principle that public institutions must serve all Nigerians without partisan discrimination,” the letter added.
The party said it looked forward to a favourable response and requested information about the procedures and conditions applicable to the approval.
The appeal appears designed to challenge the perception that access to government facilities and other forms of official support should be determined by a party’s status as the ruling party or its relationship with the administration in power.
However, the AAC’s argument that equal treatment requires comparable access does not, by itself, establish an entitlement to use the Presidential Villa or receive publicly funded catering and logistics. Such a request would ordinarily require consideration of applicable security arrangements, administrative procedures, costs and the rules governing the use of government facilities.
The Presidency’s response would therefore be central to determining whether the proposed event could take place at the requested venue and whether any of the requested logistical support would be approved.
As of the time of filing this report, no response from the Presidency confirming approval of the request had been established.
Request follows APC campaign council inauguration
The AAC’s appeal comes days after Tinubu inaugurated the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on October 14, 2026.
At the ceremony, the President urged party leaders and council members to demonstrate unity, discipline and commitment as the ruling party prepared for the 2027 presidential election.
The event brought together senior APC figures, governors, legislators and other political leaders, marking a major step in the party’s campaign preparations.
The AAC’s letter refers to arrangements reportedly extended to the APC, using the ruling party’s political engagement as the basis for its request for similar consideration.
However, the fact that the APC held its campaign council inauguration at a State House facility does not automatically establish that the government provided all the food, drinks and other logistical support now being sought by the opposition party.
The AAC’s request for assistance for 5,000 people is a separate demand that would require its own consideration and approval.
The distinction is significant because access to an official venue and the provision of public funds or services for an event are separate matters, even when requested together.
The Presidency has not yet publicly clarified whether it would consider the AAC’s requests on the same terms it says were extended to the APC.
AAC had already unveiled its campaign council
The proposed November 11 ceremony also raises a question about the nature of the event, given that the AAC had already announced the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council on October 9.
The party unveiled the council for its presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and running mate, Haruna Magashi, as part of efforts to build a nationwide mobilisation structure ahead of the 2027 election.
In its earlier announcement, the party said the council would coordinate campaign activities across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The structure was expected to bring together political strategists, organisers, policy advocates, media professionals, digital campaigners, election specialists, legal practitioners, finance personnel and grassroots mobilisers.
The earlier inauguration was presented as a major step in the party’s preparations to expand its political reach and mobilise support nationwide.
It was not immediately clear from the October 21 letter whether the proposed November 11 event would be a formal ceremony at a different venue, a further gathering of the already inaugurated council or a separate event requiring additional clarification.
The party’s request specifically describes the proposed event as the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council, making clarification on the relationship between the two ceremonies relevant.
Sowore’s party prepares for 2027 contest
The AAC is preparing to challenge Tinubu and other contenders in the 2027 presidential election through the Sowore-Magashi ticket.
Sowore, a journalist and political activist, has repeatedly advocated political and economic change, positioning himself as an alternative to Nigeria’s established political parties.
The party’s campaign council is expected to coordinate its political activities, build support across the country and organise its engagement with voters ahead of the election.
The latest request signals the party’s intention to bring its campaign preparations into a high-profile setting, although its ability to do so will depend on the Presidency’s decision.
For the AAC, approval would provide access to the seat of government for a major political gathering. A refusal, however, would not automatically establish political discrimination without a clear understanding of the applicable rules, the reasons for the decision and how comparable applications are treated.
The party has asked Tinubu to communicate the relevant procedures and conditions, leaving the Presidency to determine whether the proposed venue and logistical arrangements can be granted.
With the proposed date less than a month away, the administration’s response will determine whether the AAC can hold the event at Aso Rock and whether any public resources will be committed to supporting the gathering.
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