2027: Kwankwaso faults APC campaign council, urges Yari to reconsider DG role
Kwankwaso Critiques APC Campaign Council Composition Ahead of 2027 Elections
Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), has publicly criticized the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the upcoming 2027 election. In a statement shared on X on Sunday, he called on Abdul’aziz Yari, the council’s Director-General and a former governor of Zamfara State, to reconsider his role in leading President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Kwankwaso expressed concern over the council’s reliance on political figures who have either backed the current administration or have direct ties to it. He questioned the message the APC is sending to voters with this lineup.
“The council brings together many of the same political actors who have supported, defended, or participated in the present administration,” Kwankwaso stated. He raised fundamental questions regarding the APC’s intentions, asking, “What exactly are they asking Nigerians to vote for in 2027—a new beginning or the continuation of the same system that has brought severe hardship to our people?”
The former Kano governor emphasized that the 2027 presidential election should serve as an opportunity for Nigerians to evaluate the current administration and consider alternatives. He highlighted the pressing issues facing citizens, including rising living costs, unemployment, insecurity, and pressures on education and healthcare services.
Kwankwaso appealed directly to Yari, arguing that his experience in Zamfara should provide insight into the significant challenges confronting Nigerians, particularly those in the North-West region. “As a prominent leader from the North-West, I believe Senator Yari has a clear understanding of the devastating consequences of insecurity, poverty, unemployment, displacement, and the destruction of livelihoods in the region and the country at large,” he remarked.
He also raised concerns about the involvement of senior public officials, including Zacch Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, and Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, in the campaign’s finance and fundraising operations. Kwankwaso underscored the importance of institutional neutrality and public confidence in leadership roles, stating, “The leadership of critical public institutions demands neutrality, integrity, and public confidence.”
Kwankwaso urged the government and the APC to clarify how the roles of these officials align with these principles. He concluded by encouraging Nigerians to reject what he termed continued oppression and to advocate for accountable governance in the upcoming election.
“If Osun people can do it, so can all other parts of the country,” he stated, rallying support for a change in leadership.
