The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has expressed confidence that former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, will lead the party to victory in the 2027 presidential election.
The forum, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, congratulated Yari on his appointment as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
It also commended the appointment of two other North-Central APC members, James Faleke and Okpokwu Ogenyi, to key positions in the campaign council.
Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives, was named Deputy Director-General in charge of Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring, while Ogenyi was appointed North-Central Coordinator.
The forum said Yari’s extensive political experience and influence across the northern region made him suitable to coordinate the President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
“Senator Yari is a politician who is widely accepted across the northern states. He is a respected leader and a rallying point for progressives in the North and other parts of the country,” the statement said.
The group added that Yari had strong relationships with traditional rulers, political leaders, religious figures, youths and women across the region.
“Going by his track record, there is no doubt that he has what it takes to deliver victory for President Bola Tinubu and the APC in 2027,” it added.
The forum said Yari’s appointment was expected, given his previous efforts to mobilise grassroots support for Tinubu’s administration and re-election bid.
Yari, who represents Zamfara West in the Senate, is also the founder of the Renewed Hope Network, a grassroots mobilisation group established to promote the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
The former governor served as Zamfara State governor from 2011 to 2019 and was elected under the ANPP in 2011 before securing re-election on the APC platform in 2015.
He was also a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, representing Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency.
The North-Central APC Forum pledged to work with the campaign council, particularly its regional coordinator, to mobilise support for Tinubu across the region.
“We restate our commitment to Mr President’s election for a second term in office and pledge our full support to the Presidential Campaign Council led by Senator Abdulaziz Yari,” the forum said.
It further announced its intention to help the APC achieve its target of six million votes for Tinubu from the North-Central region in the 2027 election.
The group also expressed confidence in Faleke and Ogenyi, citing their political and campaign experience as assets to the council.
Faleke previously served as Secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council for Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign and was also Tinubu’s agent during the APC presidential primary.
Ogenyi, meanwhile, previously worked with Yari as head of the Technical Committee of the Renewed Hope Network.
The APC recently unveiled its Presidential Campaign Council, with Tinubu as chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima as Vice Chairman I and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda as Vice Chairman II.
Yari was appointed Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was named Secretary of the council.
