By our correspondent
The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has begun consultations with influential Muslim clerics across Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yari, a former Zamfara State governor, led a delegation of APC leaders to meetings with Islamic scholars in Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna and Kano states as part of efforts to engage faith-based stakeholders ahead of the election. The consultations were held with clerics associated with Izala, Tijjaniyya, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah and Qadiriyya.
The delegation included former Kano State governor and ex-APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; former Kebbi State governor, Senator Adamu Aliero; Senator Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura; APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru; former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff; James Abiodun Faleke and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase.
The consultations began in Jos, where the delegation met Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, Chairman of the Council of Ulama of JIBWIS.
In Bauchi, Yari and his team met Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi, Khalifa of the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Zawiya. The cleric offered prayers for President Bola Tinubu and called for sustained dialogue between government and religious leaders rather than engagements limited to election periods.
The delegation also held discussions in Kaduna with Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau of JIBWIS. Their talks focused on security, economic hardship and the need to strengthen trust among communities across Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and religious landscape.
Bala Lau commended Yari for reaching out to religious leaders and urged political leaders at all levels to listen more closely to the people and communicate with them honestly.
The tour ended in Kano, where Yari met Sheikh Qaribullahi Nasiru Kabara, leader of the Qadiriyya movement.
Kabara offered prayers for peace in Nigeria and the success of the campaign council’s work, while urging the APC delegation to promote unity across the country.
The consultations form part of the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s wider stakeholder engagement ahead of its 2027 campaign activities.