The appointment of Senator Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council did not come lightly and has generated different reactions. However, after a careful study of his political career and pedegree since September 2025, I have come to the irrevocable believe and conclusion that the choice is strategic and well deserved.

President Tinubu formally unveiled the APC Presidential Campaign Council on August 22, 2026, with Yari as Director-General, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as Secretary, and the President himself as Chairman. 

I honestly did not know much about Yari or had no particular interest in his political trajectory until September last year, when I was told he was looking to work with support groups ahead of the 2027 election. That prompted me, as Convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group, to investigate his political background and activities.

What I discovered was an astute politician with substantial grassroots reach. Yari served in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, was Governor of Zamfara State from 2011 to 2019 and chaired the Nigeria Governors’ Forum between 2015 and 2019. He currently represents Zamfara West in the Senate.

I also had a personal encounter with the network around him. At one point, I was invited to engage former local government chairmen at a forum in Abuja. I later discovered that Yari had sponsored the gathering and was hosting the participants. Although I arrived after he had left, I was able to meet the delegates and presented our message on President Tinubu.

For me, that experience offered an important lesson: serious political mobilisation is built long before election day. The scale of grassroots organisation attributed to Yari showed me that he has invested considerable attention in building relationships across political structures.

His profile also extends beyond politics. Following a change in ownership involving MA’AM Energy Limited’s acquisition of 95 per cent stake in Amperion Power Distribution Company, which holds the controlling interest in Geregu Power, Yari became chairman of Geregu Power Plc in December 2025. 

That combination of political experience, organisational reach and private-sector exposure makes his appointment understandable to me.

I therefore disagree with attempts to portray the appointment as something that should be rejected. Political parties should focus on strengthening their own structures rather than attempting to dictate who the APC should appoint to run its campaign.

I believe Yari has the capacity to mobilise across the North-West, North-East and North-Central while contributing to a broader national campaign. The inclusion of other experienced political figures, including Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, also shows that the APC is assembling a campaign structure with significant political experience.

As Convener of BAT-IG, I believe President Tinubu’s re-election campaign requires people who understand grassroots politics, organisation and coalition-building. From what I have observed and studied about Senator Yari since September last year, I believe he can deliver.

Ultimately, Nigerians will judge the administration by its results. If the reforms and policies of the Tinubu administration continue to produce tangible improvements as being witnessed, I believe the strongest campaign for 2027 will be the results themselves.

I believe we can win 2027, continue the Renewed Hope agenda and build a foundation strong enough for Nigerians to demand continuity beyond 2027.

Comrade Bamidele Atoyebi is the Convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group, National Coordinator of Accountability and Policy Monitoring PR and a Publisher of Unfiltered and Mining reports.