The Convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG), Bamidele Atoyebi, has described the appointment of Senator Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council as strategic and well deserved.

Atoyebi, in a statement, said although Yari’s appointment had generated mixed reactions, his assessment of the senator’s political career and grassroots activities since September 2025 had convinced him that he was well suited for the role.

President Tinubu had on August 22, 2026, formally unveiled the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, with Yari as Director-General, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as Secretary and the President as Chairman.

Atoyebi said he had little knowledge of Yari’s political trajectory until September last year, when he learnt that the senator was seeking to work with support groups ahead of the 2027 general election.

He said this prompted him, as Convener of BAT-IG, to examine Yari’s political background and activities more closely.

According to him, the assessment revealed an experienced politician with considerable grassroots reach and organisational capacity.

Yari served as a member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011 and was 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 assessment of Yari was further strengthened by a personal encounter with the political network around the senator.

He recalled that he was once invited to engage former local government chairmen at a forum in Abuja and later discovered that Yari had sponsored the gathering and hosted the participants.

Although he arrived after Yari had left the venue, Atoyebi said he met the delegates and used the opportunity to present BAT-IG’s message in support of President Tinubu.

“For me, that experience offered an important lesson: serious political mobilisation is built long before election day,” he said. “The scale of grassroots organisation attributed to Yari showed me that he has invested considerable attention in building relationships across political structures.”

Atoyebi also noted Yari’s involvement in the private sector, saying the senator became Chairman of Geregu Power Plc in December 2025 following a change in ownership involving MA’AM Energy Limited’s acquisition of a 95 per cent stake in Amperion Power Distribution Company, which holds the controlling interest in Geregu Power.

He said the combination of Yari’s political experience, organisational reach and private-sector exposure made his appointment understandable and defensible.

The BAT-IG convener therefore rejected calls for the appointment to be opposed, urging political parties outside the APC to concentrate on strengthening their own structures rather than attempting to determine who should manage the ruling party’s campaign.

“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 also pointed to the inclusion of other experienced political figures, including former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as evidence that the APC was assembling a campaign structure with considerable political experience.

He said the 2027 re-election bid of President Tinubu would require individuals with a strong understanding of grassroots politics, political 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.

Atoyebi, however, said the ultimate verdict on the Tinubu administration would be determined by its performance, stressing that continued delivery of tangible results would constitute the strongest campaign for the President ahead of the 2027 election.

“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.

He expressed confidence that the APC could retain the Presidency in 2027 and sustain what he described as the Renewed Hope agenda.

“I believe we can win in 2027, continue the Renewed Hope agenda and build a foundation strong enough for Nigerians to demand continuity beyond 2027,” Atoyebi said.