The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has challenged the opposition to demonstrate their political strength beyond their traditional support bases, insisting that regional popularity alone cannot secure victory in the 2027 presidential election.
Yari questioned whether former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) commands significant political influence in the South and whether former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) enjoys comparable strength across northern Nigeria.
Speaking after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja, the former Zamfara governor argued that a presidential candidate must establish a strong presence across different parts of the country to stand a realistic chance of winning.
According to Yari, even overwhelming support in one region would not be enough to compensate for a lack of political reach in another. He cited the 2011 presidential election, when former President Muhammadu Buhari secured substantial backing in the North but failed to win the presidency, as an example of the limitations of regional dominance.
Yari maintained that Tinubu’s political network gives the ruling party an advantage over its challengers, claiming that the President has established a presence in more than 20 states across the federation. He also dismissed suggestions that Atiku and Obi pose a serious threat to Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Beyond assessing the opposition, Yari disclosed that preparations for the APC’s 2027 presidential campaign had reached an advanced stage, with the campaign organisation’s inauguration scheduled for October 14 at the State House Banquet Hall.
He said the campaign would officially commence in Kaduna on October 24, after which the President’s team would embark on visits to states across the country. Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Maiduguri, Borno State, are among the destinations outlined for the campaign tour.
Yari explained that the schedule had received Tinubu’s approval and that further details would be made public after the inauguration of the campaign organisation.
Defending the President’s record, the APC campaign chief said the ruling party intended to highlight its achievements rather than rely solely on electoral promises. He expressed confidence that the administration’s performance would form a major part of its appeal to voters.
Yari, who was appointed to lead the APC Presidential Campaign Council in August 2026, is expected to coordinate the party’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general election.
His remarks place the question of nationwide political support at the centre of the emerging contest, as the ruling party seeks to consolidate its position while opposition figures work to build a coalition capable of challenging Tinubu’s re-election bid.
