The vice presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has urged former Zamfara State governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, to reconsider his acceptance of the position of Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.
Kwankwaso made the appeal in a statement on Sunday while reacting to the composition of the campaign council recently constituted by President Bola Tinubu.
The former Kano State governor described the 2027 presidential contest as a choice between Nigerians seeking a change in the country’s direction and political actors determined to sustain the policies of the present administration.
Tinubu had appointed Yari as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, while Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was named Secretary.
APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, was appointed Deputy Secretary, while Hadiza Bala-Usman was named Assistant Secretary.
The appointments were announced in a statement issued on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Reacting, Kwankwaso argued that the presence of several politicians who had supported or served under the Tinubu administration in the campaign structure showed that the APC was preparing to seek a fresh mandate on the basis of continuity.
He said Nigerians should critically assess whether the ruling party was offering a new political direction or seeking to perpetuate a system he blamed for worsening economic hardship.
According to him, the 2027 election would amount to a contest between Nigerians struggling with the country’s challenges and those who had benefited from or defended the existing political system.
Kwankwaso cited rising food prices, unemployment, insecurity, declining opportunities for young people and difficulties confronting farmers and businesses among the issues confronting Nigerians.
He also expressed concern over pressure on education, healthcare and other public services, urging voters to use the next general election to demand what he described as accountable and people-oriented leadership.
He said the outcome of the recent Osun State governorship election demonstrated that voters could reject political forces they were dissatisfied with, adding that the same could happen in other parts of the country.
Kwankwaso then directed his strongest appeal at Yari, urging the former governor to reconsider his decision to head Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
He argued that Yari, having governed Zamfara State and emerged as a prominent political figure in the North-West, was familiar with the impact of insecurity, poverty, unemployment and displacement on residents.
Kwankwaso questioned the justification for Yari leading a campaign aimed at retaining an administration under which, according to him, many Nigerians continued to face those difficulties.
He said Yari should reflect on whether accepting the role was consistent with his understanding of the challenges confronting the people he once governed.
Kwankwaso also questioned the participation of senior officials overseeing key public financial institutions in the campaign’s fundraising and finance structures.
He specifically mentioned the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji, and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi.
The NNPP chieftain argued that officials responsible for managing public revenue and national finances must operate with neutrality and maintain public confidence.
He called on the Federal Government and the APC to explain how the involvement of such officials in partisan campaign activities was compatible with the principle of institutional neutrality.
Kwankwaso maintained, however, that the power to determine the outcome of the 2027 election ultimately belonged to Nigerian voters.
“No campaign council is more powerful than the Nigerian people,” he said.
