Vice-Presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Rabiu Kwankwaso has called on former Zamfara State Governor Abdul’aziz Yari to reconsider his decision to lead President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, questioning why a former governor from the North-West would campaign for the continuation of an administration he says has left many Nigerians struggling. Kwankwaso […]

Vice-Presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Rabiu Kwankwaso has called on former Zamfara State Governor Abdul’aziz Yari to reconsider his decision to lead President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, questioning why a former governor from the North-West would campaign for the continuation of an administration he says has left many Nigerians struggling.

Kwankwaso made the appeal on Sunday following the constitution of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, which placed President Tinubu as Chairman and named Yari as Director-General.

The former Kano State governor argued that Yari’s experience as a former governor should make him fully aware of the insecurity, poverty, displacement and economic hardship affecting Nigerians, particularly across the North-West.

According to Kwankwaso, it was therefore necessary for Yari to deeply reconsider whether leading a campaign for the continuation of the present administration was the right decision given the challenges confronting people in the country.

He questioned whether Yari could, in good conscience, lead a political campaign aimed at retaining a government under which many of the people he previously governed continue to face serious social and economic difficulties.

The APC campaign council has Tinubu as Chairman, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda serving as Vice-Chairmen. Yari was appointed Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was named Secretary.

Kwankwaso said the structure of the campaign council represented the political choice Nigerians would have to make in 2027, which he described as a choice between maintaining the existing system and pursuing a different direction.

He further criticised the inclusion of senior officials responsible for government revenue and national finances in the campaign structure.

The former Kano governor specifically pointed to the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacheus Adedeji, who was named Deputy Director of Fundraising, and Budget Office Director-General Tanimu Yakubu, who was appointed Secretary, Finance/Treasurer.

Kwankwaso said the participation of such officials in a partisan campaign structure could raise questions about the neutrality of public institutions and potentially affect public trust.

He challenged the APC and the Federal Government to explain how the roles assigned to the officials were compatible with their responsibilities in managing public revenue and national finances.

For Kwankwaso, the 2027 election is more than a contest between political parties, describing it as a battle between Nigerians experiencing hardship and those he accused of benefiting from the system responsible for their difficulties.

He concluded by stressing that no political campaign council, regardless of its composition or influence, could be more powerful than the Nigerian people.