Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari, a seasoned politician from Katsina State, has emerged as one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's most visible political operators, particularly in the North. As President Tinubu's Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Masari's assignment is to build relationships, expand the political tent, mobilise support and help secure the political environment necessary for Tinubu to return to the Presidency in 2027. With his extensive experience in party administration, internal negotiations, and grassroots organisation, Masari is well-equipped to navigate Nigeria's complex political landscape.
Masari's political career spans several decades, including his tenure as National Welfare Secretary of the All Progressives Congress during Senator Adams Oshiomhole's leadership. He was appointed as Senior Special Assistant on Political Affairs to President Tinubu in 2023, a position that further solidified his role in the administration's political engagement. With the 2027 presidential election approaching, Masari's job is not only to defend the administration politically but also to build a bridge between the Presidency and various constituencies whose support will determine the outcome of the election.
Masari's growing political footprint is evident in a series of engagements he has organised across Northern Nigeria. Recently, he brought together about 500 Islamic scholars and religious leaders from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory in Katsina. The gathering produced an endorsement of President Tinubu for a second term in 2027, with participants expressing satisfaction with the administration's efforts to tackle insecurity and address infrastructure and economic challenges confronting the region.
In addition to engaging with Islamic scholars, Masari has also met with over 600 senior university lecturers from public universities across Northern Nigeria, who declared support for Tinubu's re-election. Female Islamic scholars from the 19 Northern states have also been brought into the engagement. These successive meetings demonstrate Masari's efforts to reach beyond traditional party politics and seek support from influential networks capable of shaping opinion within Northern communities.
Masari's engagement with politicians from outside the APC is also noteworthy. He recently received members of the PDP Tanimu Turaki faction in Katsina State, including candidates for chairmanship and councillorship positions, following their defection to the APC. The defectors declared support for Tinubu's re-election and that of Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda in 2027. Such defections represent more than an addition to the APC membership register; they are pieces in a larger political puzzle that Masari is trying to solve.
Masari's strategy has also moved into the grassroots, with the inauguration of the Katsina State chapter office of the Wazirin Tinubu Ambassador Movement and the 360 Plus 1 Forum, a platform comprising serving members of the Katsina State House of Assembly. These initiatives aim to build layers of support capable of reaching voters at the grassroots. Presidential elections are rarely won by endorsements alone; they are won when endorsements become organisation, mobilisation, and eventually, votes.
The range of people Masari is engaging is particularly interesting, including politicians, religious leaders, academics, legislators, women leaders, grassroots organisers, former opposition figures, and party loyalists. In a country as politically diverse as Nigeria, such engagement can be as important as policy formulation. The Tinubu administration is pursuing major reforms, some of which have generated intense debate and political resistance, making Masari's role in detecting political pressure and opening channels of communication crucial.
Key points
- Masari is building a coalition of politicians, religious leaders, and academics to support President Tinubu's re-election in 2027.
- Masari's engagement with politicians from outside the APC is a key aspect of his strategy to build a broad-based coalition.
- Masari's efforts to mobilise support at the grassroots level, including the inauguration of the Wazirin Tinubu Ambassador Movement and the 360 Plus 1 Forum, are critical to Tinubu's re-election bid.
