Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has embarked on a consultative tour of northern Nigeria to mobilize support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid. Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, led a high-powered APC delegation to Jos, Plateau State, Kaduna, Kano, and Bauchi states. The delegation met with prominent Islamic scholars and leaders of major Muslim movements.
The APC delegation, which included former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and former Kebbi State Governor Adamu Aliero, engaged with Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, Chairman of the Council of Ulama of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), in Jos. They also met with Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi, Khalifa of the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Zawiya, in Bauchi. These meetings focused on securing the support and cooperation of religious leaders for Tinubu's bid.
In Kaduna, Yari held extensive discussions with Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, National Chairman of the JIBWIS faction, on national concerns such as insecurity and economic difficulties. Sheikh Bala Lau commended Yari for reaching out to religious leaders and urged political leaders to listen more closely to Nigerians' concerns. He also advised leaders to communicate with citizens with sincerity and openness.
The consultations continued in Kano, where Yari met with Sheikh Qaribullahi Nasiru Kabara, leader of the Qadiriyya movement. Sheikh Kabara offered prayers for peace and stability in Nigeria and for the success of the APC delegation's consultations. He urged the delegation to promote national unity and carry the message to communities across the country.
The APC's consultations with northern Muslim leaders form part of the party's broader engagement ahead of the 2027 elections. The party seeks to deepen relationships with influential religious, traditional, and community stakeholders across Nigeria. Yari's tour is seen as a strategic move to secure support for Tinubu's re-election bid.
The meetings with Muslim leaders also provided a platform for discussions on issues affecting the country. Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi prayed for President Tinubu and called for sustained dialogue between government and religious leaders. The engagement with the faith community is expected to be continuous, rather than limited to election periods.
The APC's efforts to mobilize support for Tinubu's re-election bid come as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections. The party's national secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, and other prominent APC figures accompanied Yari on the consultative tour. The delegation's engagements with northern Muslim leaders are seen as a crucial step in the party's bid to secure a second term for President Tinubu.
Key points
- APC DG Yari meets northern Muslim leaders to secure support for President Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid
- Consultations focus on national concerns, including insecurity and economic difficulties
- APC seeks to deepen relationships with influential stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections
