By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The All Progressives Congress and the Presidency have announced Senator Abdul’Aziz Abubakar Yari as Director-General of the 2027 Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
The appointment was unveiled as part of the official formation of the re-election council, with party leaders describing the lineup as a team of experienced political operators tasked with delivering another term for the President and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, a chieftain of the APC and aspirant for Zamfara North Senatorial District in 2027, welcomed the decision and said it reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to competence and inclusivity.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Shinkafi described Yari as a man of structure with unmatched experience in party organization and elections, and said the choice signals seriousness ahead of 2027.
He traced Yari’s background to the respected Kayayen Mafara family of Talata Mafara in Zamfara State, a lineage known for scholarship, community service and integrity.
According to Shinkafi, the senator’s early upbringing combined Islamic training with Western education, culminating in an MSc from the University of Salford in the United Kingdom, a mix he said shaped Yari’s approach to governance.
Yari’s political career began at the grassroots. He served as State Secretary and later State Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party in Zamfara.
It was in that role in 2003 that he led the campaign that secured the re-election of former Governor Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura, a feat that brought him national attention as a strategist.
He later served as National Treasurer of the ANPP before winning election to the House of Representatives in 2007, where he represented Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency until 2011.
As Governor of Zamfara State, Yari played a central role in building the APC in the state at a time the party was in opposition, laying groundwork that Shinkafi said helped position the APC for national power.
Today, Yari sits in the 10th Senate and is regarded within the party as one of the key figures sustaining the Renewed Hope Agenda at the legislative level.
Shinkafi noted that the senator’s strength lies in his deep understanding of party structures, traditional institutions, and youth and women groups across the country.
He added that Yari’s political network cuts across all 36 states, giving the campaign council the kind of grassroots machinery needed to convert goodwill into votes.
“With Senator Yari leading the charge, this council will be disciplined, focused and result-driven,” Shinkafi said, urging party members to rally behind the new leadership.
He called on APC stakeholders and Nigerians who believe in continuity and development to give the council maximum support to ensure victory for the Tinubu/Shettima ticket.
Shinkafi expressed confidence that under Yari’s direction, the campaign will deliver what he called a historic win for the APC in 2027.
Shinkafi, who is also Patron of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council in 2023, former National Secretary of APGA, and Executive Director of Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development
