Yari’s political experience will strengthen Tinubu’s 2027 bid, says Atoyebi

The Convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG), Comrade 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 on Monday, said although Yari’s appointment had generated mixed reactions, his assessment of the senator’s political career, grassroots activities and organisational capacity since September 2025 had convinced him that he was well suited for the role.

He said he became interested in Yari’s political trajectory in September last year after learning that the senator was seeking to engage support groups ahead of the 2027 general elections. His subsequent assessment, he said, revealed an experienced politician with considerable grassroots reach.

Atoyebi said his assessment was further strengthened by an encounter with Yari’s political network at a forum involving former local government chairmen in Abuja, which he later learnt had been sponsored by the senator. Although Yari had left before his arrival, he 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, adding that the scale of grassroots organisation around Yari showed that he had invested considerable attention in building relationships across political structures.

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Atoyebi also noted Yari’s private-sector exposure, 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 held the controlling interest in Geregu Power.

“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, adding that the inclusion of experienced politicians, including former Borno State governor and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, showed that the APC was assembling a formidable campaign structure.

He said the 2027 re-election bid would require individuals who understand grassroots politics, political organisation and coalition-building, adding: “From what I have observed and studied about Senator Yari since September last year, I believe he can deliver.”