ICYMI: Kwankwaso urges Yari to reconsider Tinubu campaign council role

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has appealed to former Zamfara State Governor, Abdul’aziz Yari, to reconsider his decision to serve as Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.

Kwankwaso made the appeal in a statement on Sunday while reacting to the recently constituted APC campaign council, which has President Bola Tinubu as chairman and Yari as Director-General.

The former Kano State governor questioned why Yari, who previously governed Zamfara State, would lead a campaign seeking the continuation of the present administration, despite what he described as persistent insecurity, poverty, unemployment and other challenges facing Nigerians.

“I particularly appeal to my brother, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, who has accepted to serve as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, to reflect deeply and reconsider accepting this responsibility,” Kwankwaso said.

He argued that Yari, as a former governor and prominent leader from the North-West, was familiar with the effects of insecurity, poverty, displacement and the destruction of livelihoods in the region.

“I therefore will be surprised if in his good conscience, will lead a campaign whose principal objective is to secure the continuation of a government under which many of the people he once governed, and other innocent Nigerians, remain trapped in these challenges?” he asked.

The APC recently constituted its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, with Tinubu as chairman, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, as vice-chairmen, while Yari was named Director-General. Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was named secretary.

Kwankwaso described the composition of the council as a reflection of the choice Nigerians would face in the 2027 election, questioning whether the APC was offering “a new beginning” or the continuation of the present system.

“The truth is, I see the 2027 election as a struggle between the oppressed Nigerian masses and those who have benefited from, defended and sustained the system responsible for their hardship,” he said.

He also raised questions about the inclusion of senior public officials in the campaign’s fundraising and finance structures, specifically mentioning the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacheus Adedeji, and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu.

According to the APC campaign council list, Adedeji was named Deputy Director of Fundraising, while Tanimu Yakubu was listed as Secretary, Finance/Treasurer.

Kwankwaso said the involvement of officials responsible for public revenue and national finances in partisan campaign structures raised questions about institutional neutrality and public trust.

He urged the APC and the Federal Government to explain how the arrangement was consistent with the responsibilities of the affected public institutions.

“Ultimately, no campaign council is more powerful than the Nigerian people,” Kwankwaso said.