By Lizzy Chirkpi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has inaugurated its Directorate of Security and Intelligence (DSI) ahead of the January 16, 2027, presidential election, tasking it with providing security support, assessing threats and protecting campaign personnel and sensitive information.
The directorate and its 12 sub-committees were inaugurated on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at Statement Hotel in the Central Area of Abuja.
According to the directorate, its responsibilities include security coordination, intelligence gathering, risk assessment, inter-agency liaison, cybersecurity, crowd management and election monitoring, in accordance with applicable laws and approved campaign policies.
The sub-committees inaugurated include Operations and Field Coordination; Strategy and Political Coordination; Security, Intelligence and Risk Management; Cybersecurity and Communication; Inter-Agency Liaison; Votes and Voters Protection; Venue and Crowd Control; Mobility, Protocol and Logistics; VIP Protection; Internal Vetting and Investigation; and Election Monitoring and Situation Room.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Director of the DSI, retired Major General SY Bello, urged members to uphold professionalism, discipline, integrity and teamwork in carrying out their responsibilities.
“Our strength must lie in our professionalism, integrity, and discipline. We must join hands and work together to achieve our goal,” Bello said.
He urged the sub-committee chairmen, secretaries and members to commence work immediately, stressing that the assignment required dedication and a collective commitment to achieving the directorate’s objectives.
“I therefore urge directorate members, all sub-committee chairmen, secretaries, and members who have accepted this responsibility to hit the ground. The task ahead demands commitment, dedication, and our very best efforts,” he said.
The Deputy Director I of the directorate, Dr Bello Matawalle, expressed confidence in the team and called on members to remain united, focused and committed to the responsibilities entrusted to them.
Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, also expressed confidence in the APC’s chances in the forthcoming presidential election, attributing the party’s optimism to what he described as the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“This election is as good as won. We will win it, Insha Allah. President Tinubu’s achievements have placed him in a position to win the January 16 presidential election, and I advise all of us to approach this assignment with the seriousness it deserves,” he said.
Other officials present at the inauguration included the directorate’s Co-Director, Lukman Adegboyega Fasasi; retired General C.G. Musa; retired General A. Olonisakin; Professor Sale Mohammed Kanam; retired Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa; and retired General Lucky Eluonye Irabor, among other dignitaries.