•Yari and Tinubu
Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will secure re-election in 2027.
He also said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will retain the presidency beyond 2031, reports Daily Trust.
This is despite the controversy that has greeted the composition of the party’s campaign council.
Yari, the newly appointed Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, spoke at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after returning from an overseas trip.
He was received by party supporters who gathered at the airport to welcome him and pray for the success of his assignment and Tinubu’s re-election bid.
His declaration came barely 24 hours after the presidency unveiled the campaign council, headed by Tinubu, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, among its principal officials.
Imo State tovernor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, was named secretary, while Yari was appointed Director General.
The council, however, has already triggered criticism over the choice of some members, particularly the inclusion of serving public officials and individuals facing unresolved allegations.
The appointment of Nigeria Revenue Service Chairman Zacch Adedeji as Deputy Director of Fundraising has emerged as one of the major points of contention, with former Kogi West senator Dino Melaye threatening legal action over what he described as a potential conflict of interest.
The inclusion of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu and former NSITF board chair Ngozi Olejeme has also attracted scrutiny because of unresolved financial misconduct allegations associated with the two former officials.
Former presidential adviser and APC chieftain Babafemi Ojudu has equally questioned the composition of the council, while opposition parties have attacked the list and the political personalities selected for the assignment.
Despite the backlash, Yari boasted that the APC would secure another term for Tinubu on the strength of the administration’s performance over the past three years.
“Today, we have seen him [Bola Ahmed Tinubu] as president today, and by God’s grace, he shall be the president come 2027,” he said.
The former Zamfara governor also sought to reassure Nigerians that the ruling party would remain accountable to the promises it made during the 2023 campaign.
“I want to assure Nigerians that whatever promise we made during the campaign, we shall keep to our promises,” he said.
Yari said the party’s continued appeal to voters would depend on its ability to fulfil those commitments, adding that the APC was known for keeping its word.
“Our party is synonymous with keeping to our words,” he said.
He also prayed for divine guidance for Tinubu and pledged that the APC would fulfil its campaign commitments to Nigerians.
“We pray that Almighty Allah will give him [the President] the wisdom to lead this country. We assure Nigerians that we shall fulfill all our campaign promises,” Yari said.
The campaign DG then expressed the hope that the APC would remain the dominant political party in the country after Tinubu completes a possible second term.
“We pray that our party will continue to be the party to lead the country after President Tinubu’s second term,” he said.
Yari’s statement comes as the newly constituted campaign council begins its work amid an early political mobilisation for the 2027 presidential election.
There have been questions over whether the controversial composition of the council could become an issue for the ruling party as it seeks another mandate.
