“Call 112 Now” — APC Removes Alwan Hassan As Campaign Spokesman After Emergency Number Fails Live TV Test

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has removed Alwan Hassan from his position as campaign spokesman, barely 24 hours after his attempt to demonstrate the effectiveness of Nigeria’s 112 emergency telephone number failed during a live television interview.

Hassan was among four previously designated spokespersons affected by a restructuring of the council’s Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications, announced on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.

The development followed his controversial appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, November 10, during which he challenged the programme’s presenter, Seun Okinbaloye, to dial the emergency number, insisting that the service was fully operational.

However, repeated attempts to connect to the number during the live broadcast were unsuccessful, prompting questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s emergency response system.

In a statement signed by the Chief of Staff to the President and Deputy Director-General (Administration) of the campaign council, Femi Gbajabiamila, the APC announced changes to its media structure, restricting the authority to speak officially for the campaign to three designated officials.

Under the new arrangement, only the council’s Director-General, Abdulaziz Yari; the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, are authorised to speak on behalf of the presidential campaign.

Hassan, alongside Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda, has consequently lost his spokesperson role.

However, the four affected officials will remain members of the Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications.

Explaining the decision, the council said the restructuring was aimed at ensuring greater coordination, discipline and effectiveness in its public communication.

“To ensure more cohesive, disciplined, and effective public engagement, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has made some changes to the structure of the Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications,” the statement read.

The council further directed that all persons previously announced as spokespersons should henceforth operate only as members of the directorate.

It also instructed radio and television stations to comply with the new communication arrangement, explaining that authorised representatives would be assigned to media appearances whenever necessary.

The announcement came a day after Hassan’s appearance on national television generated controversy over the functionality of the 112 emergency number.

During the interview, Hassan, who was defending the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, cited the emergency telephone service as one of the facilities available to Nigerians requiring urgent assistance.

He explained that the number could be used to request assistance during medical emergencies, security incidents and road accidents.

Comparing the service with the United States’ 911 emergency response system, Hassan urged the presenter to test the Nigerian number during the programme.

“Take your phone and call 112. Nobody knows about this. We used to hear it in America, 911. Call 112 now, put it on the speaker, and they’ll ask you what’s your emergency,” Hassan said.

Following the challenge, Okinbaloye dialled 112 during the live broadcast, but the call failed to connect.

Further attempts to reach the emergency service were also unsuccessful.

As the attempts failed, Hassan maintained that the service was operational and suggested that the inability to connect might have resulted from a telecommunications network problem.

Okinbaloye, however, questioned that explanation, pointing out that other telephone calls made from the studio were connecting successfully.

The exchange generated public attention because Hassan had specifically challenged the presenter to demonstrate the availability of the emergency service while defending the government’s performance.

Although the failed calls raised questions about the reliability of the emergency number, the unsuccessful attempts during the programme did not establish whether the service was unavailable nationwide or whether the problem was limited to the connection used during the broadcast.

The APC’s subsequent restructuring has now removed Hassan from his official spokesperson position, alongside three other members of the campaign’s media team.

However, the council’s statement did not expressly link the changes to Hassan’s television appearance or identify the failed emergency call demonstration as the reason for his removal.

The restructuring leaves Yari, Alake and Idris as the only officials authorised to speak officially on behalf of the campaign council.

Hassan and the three other affected spokespersons will continue as members of the media directorate without the authority to speak for the campaign in that capacity.

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