By Matthew Okon
The Convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG), Bamidele Atoyebi, has expressed confidence in the ability of Senator Abdulaziz Yari to mobilise grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Atoyebi said Yari’s extensive political experience, organisational capacity and network across the northern region could strengthen the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He spoke while defending Yari’s appointment as Director-General of Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, describing the choice as strategic and well deserved despite the mixed reactions it has generated.
President Tinubu formally unveiled the APC Presidential Campaign Council on August 22, 2026, with Yari appointed Director-General, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as Secretary and the President as Chairman.
According to Atoyebi, his assessment of Yari’s political activities since September 2025 convinced him that the former Zamfara governor possesses the grassroots connections required to coordinate an effective presidential campaign.
Yari served in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011 before becoming Governor of Zamfara State from 2011 to 2019. He also served as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum between 2015 and 2019 and currently represents Zamfara West Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Atoyebi said his perception of Yari changed after he observed the senator’s political network and grassroots engagements.
He recalled an occasion when he was invited to address former local government chairmen at a forum in Abuja and later discovered that Yari had sponsored the gathering and hosted the participants.
“For me, that experience offered an important lesson: serious political mobilisation is built long before election day,” Atoyebi said.
He added that the scale of grassroots organisation associated with Yari demonstrated his ability to build and maintain relationships across political structures.
The BAT-IG convener also cited Yari’s involvement in the private sector, noting that the senator became Chairman of Geregu Power Plc in December 2025.
Atoyebi argued that Yari’s combination of political experience, grassroots networks and exposure outside politics made him suitable to lead the APC’s presidential campaign structure.
He dismissed calls for opposition to Yari’s appointment, urging opposition parties to focus instead on strengthening their own political structures.
“I believe Yari has the capacity to mobilise across the North-West, North-East and North-Central while contributing to a broader national campaign,” he said.
Atoyebi further pointed to the involvement of other experienced politicians, including former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as evidence that the APC was building a campaign team with significant political experience.
He said Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign would require politicians with a strong understanding of grassroots mobilisation, organisation and coalition-building.
“As Convener of BAT-IG, I believe President Tinubu’s re-election campaign requires people who understand grassroots politics, organisation and coalition-building. From what I have observed and studied about Senator Yari since September last year, I believe he can deliver,” he said.
However, Atoyebi acknowledged that the administration’s performance would ultimately determine the President’s electoral prospects.
He said continued delivery of tangible results by the Tinubu administration would provide the strongest basis for the President’s campaign in 2027.
“Ultimately, Nigerians will judge the administration by its results. If the reforms and policies of the Tinubu administration continue to produce tangible improvements as being witnessed, I believe the strongest campaign for 2027 will be the results themselves,” he said.
Atoyebi expressed confidence that the APC could retain the Presidency in 2027 and sustain what he described as the Renewed Hope agenda.