In a strategic move to build a broad-based coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC), has begun a high-level consultation drive with key faith-based stakeholders across Nigeria. The initiative kicked off with a multi-state visit across the North-East and North-Central geopolitical zones, where Senator Yari led a powerful delegation of party leaders to engage prominent Islamic scholars and sect leaders.
The delegation, which included APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, and former APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, visited Jos, Plateau State, where they were received by Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, Chairman of the Council of Ulama of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS). The visit is part of the APC PCC's strategy to ensure every critical stakeholder group has a voice and direct engagement in the effort to deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027.
In Bauchi, the delegation met with Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi, Khalifa of the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Zawiya, representing the Tijjaniyya order. Sheikh Ibrahim emphasised the need for consistent engagement between government and faith institutions, stating that dialogue between the state and the religious community must be sustained, not seasonal. The delegation also visited Kano, where they met with key figures in the Qadiriyya movement.
The consultative circuit also included a visit to Kaduna, where Senator Yari held extensive deliberations with Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, National Chairman of JIBWIS (Kaduna). The discussions focused on key national challenges, including security, economic hardship, and fostering mutual trust among diverse ethnic and religious groups. Sheikh Bala Lau commended the campaign council for prioritising inclusiveness while offering constructive advice to the nation’s political leadership.
Throughout the engagements, the APC delegation reaffirmed its commitment to an open-door policy, assuring the religious community that feedback gathered from the tour would directly inform the administration’s ongoing governance and campaign strategy. The delegation also included former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Adamu Aliero, and former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
The visits are seen as a crucial step in building support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid, with the APC PCC seeking to engage with critical stakeholders across the country. The party leaders emphasised the importance of inclusiveness and mutual trust in the electoral process. The delegation's outreach was welcomed by the religious community, with many leaders offering prayers for President Tinubu’s administration.
The APC PCC's consultation drive is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with Senator Yari and his team set to engage with other faith-based stakeholders and critical groups across Nigeria. The party's efforts to build a broad-based coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election are seen as a key strategy in securing a second term for President Tinubu.
Key points
- APC leaders embark on consultation drive with Islamic scholars and sect leaders
- The visits aim to build support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid
- The party seeks to engage with critical stakeholders across the country
