2027: APC Campaign Council DG Yari begins nationwide consultations

…Seeks traditional rulers’ blessings, prayers ahead of official kickoff

…As Oba Akiolu backs Tinubu for second term

By Adebola Muili

The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has commenced strategic consultations with traditional and religious leaders across the country ahead of the official kickoff of the party’s 2027 presidential campaign.

Yari, who led a delegation of APC stakeholders to the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, on Monday, sought the monarch’s royal blessings, prayers and counsel as the council begins its grassroots mobilisation for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

Receiving the delegation, Oba Akiolu endorsed Tinubu for a second term, declaring that there would be no vacancy in the Presidential Villa for the next four or five years.

“For the next four or five years, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock,” Akiolu said.

The monarch also urged politicians to ensure that the 2027 electoral process is peaceful, cautioning against the use of negative tactics in the pursuit of political power.

He stressed the need for politicians to put the interests of the people and the country above personal ambitions.

Yari, while explaining the purpose of the visit, said the campaign council would showcase the achievements of the Tinubu administration to Nigerians as it seeks support for the President’s re-election.

“We believe in justice. President Tinubu has achieved a lot and we can demonstrate that. We have a lot to showcase,” Yari said.

The Lagos engagement followed an earlier visit by Yari to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, where he sought the monarch’s support and counsel as the campaign council begins its mobilisation activities.

The Sultan’s engagement formed part of the council’s first major outing ahead of the formal commencement of the 2027 presidential campaign.

At the meeting, Yari said the consultations with traditional and religious leaders were part of efforts to build broad-based grassroots support for Tinubu across the country.

The Sultan, in his remarks, urged politicians to avoid violence and the negative weaponisation of politics, stressing that political contests should be based on popular support.

“Politics is a game of numbers, not of death. In politics what you need is people,” the Sultan said.

He also described insecurity and poverty as challenges that require sustained efforts to reduce their impact on Nigerians.

“We must not weaponise 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,” he said.

The campaign council said the consultations would cover the six geopolitical zones and involve engagements with traditional rulers as well as Christian and Muslim religious leaders.

The council is expected to use the consultations to strengthen its grassroots mobilisation ahead of the official campaign season, with Yari bringing his political experience and network to bear on the exercise.

The Lagos engagement was attended by APC stakeholders, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, local government chairmen, members of the National Assembly and state lawmakers.

The consultations are expected to continue across the country as the APC prepares for the official commencement of its presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.