APC Campaign Council Sacks Spokespersons Over 112 Emergency Number Blunder

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has sacked some of its spokespersons following the controversy generated by the failed live television demonstration of Nigeria’s 112 emergency number by one of its officials, Alwan Hassan.

The decision followed public outrage over the incident, which has triggered criticism of the President Bola Tinubu administration and raised fresh questions about the functionality of the country’s emergency response system.

Apparently piqued by the public embarrassment, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday announced the removal of the spokespersons previously named by the campaign council.

According to a statement by Gbajabiamila, only three officials of the campaign council are now recognised to speak on behalf of the council. They are the Director General, Senator Abdulaziz Yari; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; and the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris.

Hassan, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday, had challenged the programme’s anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, to dial 112 to demonstrate the effectiveness of the emergency service, which he described as an achievement of the APC-led administration.

He had explained that the number was designed to connect Nigerians to emergency response centres for assistance during medical emergencies, security threats, road accidents and other distress situations.

However, the demonstration turned embarrassing when repeated attempts by Okinbaloye to reach the emergency line failed to connect.

Despite the failed attempts, Hassan insisted that the service was operational, suggesting that a network problem might have been responsible for the development.

The incident quickly generated public backlash, with opposition parties seizing on the controversy to question the administration’s claims about improved public infrastructure and service delivery.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in particular, described the failed demonstration as a “national embarrassment”, accusing the Tinubu administration of prioritising propaganda and public relations over the delivery of functional public services.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Campaign Council spokesperson, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, the party said the incident exposed the weaknesses in Nigeria’s emergency response infrastructure.

“The failed attempt by President Bola Tinubu’s Campaign Spokesperson, Mallam Alwan Hassan, to demonstrate the functionality of Nigeria’s 112 emergency line on national television was nothing short of a national embarrassment, and a prime example of the total flop of APC government that we’ve been speaking about,” the NDC said.

The opposition party argued that Nigerians should be able to access emergency assistance without difficulty, particularly during road accidents, violent attacks and medical emergencies.

It also faulted the government’s response to the failed demonstration, insisting that authorities should address the operational challenges confronting the emergency system rather than blame network problems.

“Governance is not about what government spokespersons say on television; it is about what ordinary Nigerians experience when they need their government most,” the statement added.

The NDC further accused the administration of being more interested in projecting achievements than addressing insecurity, poorly equipped hospitals, unreliable public infrastructure, institutional weaknesses and the rising cost of living.

The controversy has now escalated into an internal crisis for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, culminating in the reported sack of some of its spokespersons.

The development comes as the ruling party intensifies efforts to defend Tinubu’s record ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition parties increasingly challenging the administration’s performance on the economy, security and public service delivery.

The 112 emergency number is intended to provide Nigerians with a centralised channel for accessing emergency services, including police, ambulance and other relevant response agencies.

Its reliability has, however, come under renewed scrutiny following the television incident, particularly against the backdrop of persistent concerns about emergency response and public safety across the country.

Five individuals were appointed as spokespersons at the campaign council’s inauguration with Alake as lead spokesperson.

Others so appointed at the time were Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda. The four individuals have now been relieved of the positions as spokespersons.