The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has launched a new approach to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's 2027 re-election campaign, focusing on grassroots engagement. This strategy involves town hall meetings and consultations with religious leaders before large-scale campaign rallies. The council's Director-General, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, announced this in Kano, where he led a delegation to meet with the leader of the Qadiriyya Order, Sheikh Qaribullah Nasiru Kabara.
According to Yari, the decision to start with direct engagements was driven by the need to hear Nigerians' concerns firsthand. Town hall meetings will allow citizens to speak directly to those coordinating the campaign, providing an opportunity for the council to understand their concerns and expectations. This approach will enable the council to address issues raised as the campaign progresses. Yari emphasized that many Nigerians are eager to hear from the council and that face-to-face meetings are a more effective starting point than traditional campaign rallies.
Consultations with religious leaders are also a crucial part of the council's strategy, given their influence and role in promoting social cohesion. Yari mentioned that the council has met with leaders of Izala and Tijjaniyya and is now meeting with the Qadiriyya sect. These meetings aim to seek the blessings and spiritual guidance of the sheikhs. The council has already conducted similar meetings in Bauchi, Jos, and Kaduna.
Yari acknowledged the economic challenges faced by Nigerians, including rising prices and foreign exchange fluctuations. However, he argued that the situation has begun to stabilize under the Tinubu administration. The government's infrastructure agenda, including the Kano-Maradi railway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, reflects its commitment to completing projects inherited from the previous administration.
The campaign council's consultations are part of its broader engagements ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The council was formally constituted by the APC in August, with Yari appointed as its Director-General. Kano State Deputy Governor Murtala Sule Garo has pledged the state's support for Tinubu's re-election, citing the state's benefits from APC-led Federal Government projects and programs.
Sheikh Qaribullah Nasiru Kabara expressed support for continuity under the Tinubu administration. Yari expressed optimism that the government's programs will yield greater benefits as implementation continues, leading to improved economic and security conditions. This, he believes, will enable Nigerians to feel the impact of the administration's policies more directly.
The APC's strategy aims to engage Nigerians directly and address their concerns. The council's approach will enable it to obtain a clearer understanding of Nigerians' expectations and create an avenue for addressing the issues raised. The campaign's success will depend on the effectiveness of this grassroots-focused approach.
Key points
- APC launches grassroots-focused approach to President Tinubu's 2027 re-election campaign.
- Town hall meetings and consultations with religious leaders to precede large-scale campaign rallies.
- Council aims to hear Nigerians' concerns firsthand and address issues raised during the campaign.
