Barely one week to the second-year anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Comrade Governor Nasir Idris’ administrations, the major stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State have endorsed the candidatures of the two leaders for the 2027 general elections.
By Abdullahi Idris Zuru
The endorsement, which appears to be final, may rule out the possibility of any party member in the state aspiring for the positions in 2027.
What could be considered a unanimous decision was reached during a stakeholders’ forum meeting in Birnin Kebbi, held for the formal reception of three People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senators who recently defected to the APC and for the inauguration of a political movement named “Tinubu and Kaura 2 Terms.”
The senators who decamped are Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central; Dr. Yahaya Abdullahi, representing Kebbi North; and Senator Garba Musa Maidoki, representing Kebbi South in the Senate.
Present at the occasion were three former governors and their deputies, elders of the party from all levels, members of the National and State Executive Committees, members of the National and State Assemblies (both serving and former), members of federal and state boards and commissions, members of the business community, and religious leaders from all faiths.
The formation and subsequent inauguration of the high-powered mobilisation council was a decision of the expanded stakeholders’ forum, aimed at ensuring sanity and an effective campaign strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Inaugurating the council members, Comrade Governor Nasir Idris noted that it would further unite party members in the state and ensure purposeful leadership that carries everyone along in achieving a landslide victory in 2027.
The council is headed by a rugged, seasoned, and uncompromising politician, Alhaji Abubakar Mallam Shettiman Gwandu, the Managing Director of Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA), who serves as Grand Patron. Some National Assembly members, respected elders, and other responsible individuals were appointed as patrons, while an executive committee, including a Director General, has also been constituted.
Governor Nasir Idris, however, warned that the council and the State Executive Committee of the party must be seen as partners working toward a common goal, not as rivals. He stressed the need for a harmonious working relationship.
Meanwhile, several speakers at the event gave reasons for the endorsement, including the execution of valuable infrastructure projects in various sectors of the economy. They emphasized the importance of forming the council to ensure continuity of President Tinubu and Governor Nasir’s leadership beyond 2027.
Among the speakers was former governor and current Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. He reminded the gathering that the endorsement of President Tinubu and Governor Nasir Idris was already a foregone conclusion, having been declared earlier in February during a thank-you rally organized by associations, trade unions, farmers, and the business community in Kebbi. He noted that the move was later replicated in Kaduna by the North-West chapter of the APC two weeks ago.
In his remarks, former Senate Leader and one of the decampees, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, said, “Regardless of whatever anybody may say, we are founding members of the party and have now decided to return home because of the respect and high regard both President Tinubu and Comrade Governor Nasir have for us, in addition to the remarkable achievements of Governor Nasir’s administration within just two years.”
In his acceptance speech, the Grand Patron of the Tinubu/Kaura Two Terms movement, Alhaji Abubakar Mallam, warned that in the absence of any political party with visible politicians of substance, the leadership and membership of the APC must remain steadfast and resolute in championing the party’s cause.
He cautioned that members must not be carried away by the defection of the three senators or the remarkable developments recorded in the state under Comrade Nasir Idris, with the intervention of President Tinubu and the overwhelming support of the people of Kebbi State. He expressed confidence that the victory of all APC candidates in 2027 is guaranteed, Insha Allah.
Abdullahi Idris Zuru
Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the Kebbi State Governor
