The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Senator Abubakar Yari, has begun nationwide political consultations ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
The consultations, described as the first major outing of the campaign structure, will take the former Zamfara State governor across the six geopolitical zones to engage traditional rulers, religious leaders and other key stakeholders.
Yari’s first official stop was the Sultanate in Sokoto, where he met with the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III. The visit came days after more than 1,000 Islamic clerics reportedly held a prayer session in support of the initiative.
Speaking during the visit, Yari said the campaign team was confident that President Tinubu’s achievements would speak for themselves.
“We believe in justice. President Tinubu has achieved a lot and we can demonstrate that. We have a lot to showcase,” the APC PCC Director-General said.
In his remarks, the Sultan urged politicians to conduct politics peacefully and avoid actions capable of dividing the country.
“Politics is a game of numbers, not of death. In politics what you need is people,” the Sultan said.
He added: “We must not weaponize politics in a negative way. Insecurity is everybody’s problem. You can never eradicate poverty. You can reduce it. You can never eradicate insecurity. But you can reduce it.”
According to the campaign team, the nationwide consultations will cover all six geopolitical zones and include meetings with both Christian and Muslim religious leaders as part of efforts to build broad-based support.
The delegation to Sokoto included the governors of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari, former Sokoto State Governor Senator Aliyu Wamakko, former Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima? (Note: the press release states “Bunu Sherriff”; this appears unclear and should be verified before publication.) Also listed were former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, former Kebbi State Governor Senator Adamu Aliero and House of Representatives member James Faleke.
The campaign team said its next consultation will take place in Lagos, where it is expected to meet the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
