Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has declared that none of the politicians seeking to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election comes close to matching him in competence and political quality.
Yari made the assertion on Wednesday while addressing members of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers in Gusau, Zamfara State, where he solicited support for Tinubu’s bid to secure a second term in office.
The former Zamfara governor said the APC would approach the 2027 campaign as a broader engagement with Nigerians on the future direction of the country, rather than treating it solely as an electioneering exercise.
According to him, the credentials of the various presidential contenders do not measure up to those of Tinubu.
Yari, who represents Zamfara West Senatorial District, said the difference between Tinubu and his challengers was so wide that, in his assessment, none possessed even 10 per cent of the qualities he attributed to the President.
He acknowledged that opposition politicians were within their rights to contest the presidency and campaign for votes, but maintained that the APC would work vigorously to retain power in 2027.
The senator also expressed confidence that the ruling party would emerge victorious, while calling on supporters to pray for Tinubu and Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, in their respective political contests.
Yari urged supporters to seek divine guidance for both leaders to enable them to complete what he described as the work they had begun for the people.
His comments came barely three weeks after his appointment as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, placing him at the centre of the ruling party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
Yari’s political experience spans several levels of government. He served as governor of Zamfara State and later returned to the National Assembly as senator representing Zamfara West. His appointment to lead the campaign has been presented by the APC as part of its effort to deploy experienced political figures with extensive grassroots and national networks.
Tinubu is expected to face a number of prominent opposition figures in the 2027 contest. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is seeking the presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, while Peter Obi is also among the opposition politicians positioning for the election.
With the campaign machinery already taking shape, Yari’s remarks underscore the APC’s intention to build its 2027 campaign around Tinubu’s leadership credentials while seeking to portray the President as the strongest option among the emerging contenders.
The statement also reflects the increasingly competitive political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 election, with the ruling party and opposition forces stepping up efforts to consolidate support across the country.
