By Blessing Fali
Former Kano State Governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has criticised the composition of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election and appealed to its Director-General, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, to reconsider his decision to lead the campaign.
Kwankwaso made the appeal while reacting to the recently constituted APC campaign council, which has President Bola Tinubu as chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, as vice-chairmen, while Yari was appointed Director-General and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, secretary.
The former Kano governor questioned why Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and prominent political figure from the North-West, would accept responsibility for leading a campaign seeking the continuation of the Tinubu administration.
Kwankwaso argued that Yari was familiar with the challenges facing many communities in the North-West, particularly insecurity, poverty, displacement and the destruction of livelihoods.
He said he would be surprised if Yari, given his experience as a former governor, could in good conscience lead a campaign aimed at securing another term for an administration under which many Nigerians were still facing serious difficulties.
Kwankwaso also criticised the inclusion of senior government officials in the campaign council’s financial structure. He specifically questioned the appointment of Nigeria Revenue Service Executive Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, as Deputy Director of Fundraising and Budget Office Director-General, Tanimu Yakubu, as Secretary, Finance and Treasurer.
According to him, the involvement of officials responsible for public revenue and national finances in a partisan campaign structure could raise concerns about the neutrality of public institutions and the use of government resources.
He therefore called on the APC and the Federal Government to explain how the participation of such officials in the campaign council was compatible with their official responsibilities.
Kwankwaso described the 2027 election as a contest between Nigerians he characterised as the oppressed and those who had benefited from or sustained the existing political system.
He urged Nigerians to carefully examine the choices before them ahead of the election, insisting that the campaign council’s composition offered an indication of the political direction the APC intended to pursue.
Meanwhile, Yari has defended his appointment and assured Nigerians that the APC would fulfil its campaign promises as it seeks President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The APC’s campaign council was recently constituted as part of preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with a broad membership drawn from political leaders, governors and other key stakeholders.
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