The APC Presidential Campaign Council has removed Alwan Hassan as spokesman barely 24 hours after his live TV test of the 112 emergency number failed.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has officially removed Alwan Hassan from his position as a campaign spokesman.
The removal happened on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, barely 24 hours after Hassan suffered an embarrassing live television moment while trying to prove that Nigeria’s 112 emergency phone number works properly.
The drama started on Tuesday night, November 10, 2026, when Alwan Hassan appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s popular political programme, Politics Today, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.
During the broadcast, Hassan praised President Bola Tinubu’s government and boasted about the 112 emergency response line, comparing it to the famous 911 emergency system used in the United States.
Confident that the phone line would pick up immediately, Hassan boldly challenged the television presenter to dial the number right there on live television and put the phone on loudspeaker for Nigerians watching at home to hear.
Issuing the bold challenge live on air to prove the government’s achievement, Alwan Hassan declared:
“Let me tell you what you don’t know. Take your phone and call 112. Nobody knows about this. We used to hear about it in America: 911. Put it on speaker, and they will ask you what your emergency is—whether health, security, or distress call. Call 112. Welcome to Nigeria. Thanks to the APC government.”
However, the live demonstration quickly turned awkward when Seun Okinbaloye picked up his phone, dialed 112, and put it on speaker, only for the call to fail.
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Repeated attempts by both the presenter and Hassan to get the emergency line to connect failed on air. When Hassan tried to blame a possible telephone network problem for the failure, Okinbaloye quickly countered his excuse, pointing out that other phone calls made from the exact same television studio were connecting without any issues.
Following widespread mockery of the video clip on social media, the APC Presidential Campaign Council issued an official statement on Wednesday signed by its Deputy Director-General, Femi Gbajabiamila, announcing a major shake-up of its media team.
Alongside Alwan Hassan, three other spokespersons, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, and Adamu Fanda, were relieved of their spokesperson duties, though they will remain ordinary members of the media directorate.
Explaining the sudden decision to restrict media interviews to only three top officials, Director-General Abdulaziz Yari, Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake, and Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, the council stated:
“The restructuring is aimed at ensuring more cohesive, disciplined, and effective public engagement. Radio and television stations are hereby directed to comply with this new arrangement, as only authorised representatives will be assigned to media appearances when necessary.”
The incident has sparked fresh public debate over the readiness of Nigeria’s emergency response services.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
