By Lanre Oloyede
The battle for political support in the North ahead of the 2027 presidential election appears to be gathering momentum, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council intensifying its engagement with influential Muslim clerics across the region.
Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, on Monday led a high-powered delegation of party leaders on a consultation tour of religious leaders in parts of the North, seeking support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The consultations, which cut across the North-Central, North-West and North-East, took the delegation to Jos in Plateau State, Bauchi, Kaduna and Kano, where Yari met prominent Islamic scholars and leaders associated with the Izala, Tijjaniyya, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) and Qadiriyya movements.
The development comes as political parties and emerging coalitions intensify efforts to secure the support of influential northern constituencies ahead of 2027.
Yari’s delegation included former Kano State Governor and 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; Hon. James Abiodun Faleke; and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase.
The prominent political figures accompanying Yari underscored the importance the ruling party appears to be attaching to its engagement with religious and traditional stakeholders as preparations for the 2027 contest gather pace.
In Jos, the delegation met Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, Chairman of the Council of Ulama of JIBWIS.
The team subsequently proceeded to Bauchi, where it met Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi, Khalifa of the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Zawiya.
Sheikh Ibrahim prayed for President Tinubu and called for sustained dialogue between government and religious communities, stressing that such engagement should not be limited to election periods.
The message appeared to highlight one of the central challenges confronting political parties as they seek religious and community support: whether pre-election consultations can translate into sustained engagement with citizens beyond campaign season.
In Kaduna, Yari held discussions with Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, National Chairman of the Kaduna faction of JIBWIS.
Their discussions reportedly focused on security, economic hardship and the need to sustain mutual trust among communities of different ethnic backgrounds.
Sheikh Bala Lau commended Yari for reaching out to religious leaders but urged political leaders at all levels to listen more and communicate with the people with sincerity.
The APC delegation’s final stop was Kano, where Yari met Sheikh Qaribullahi Nasiru Kabara, leader of the Qadiriyya movement.
The Islamic scholar offered prayers for peace in Nigeria and the success of the council’s engagements, while urging the delegation to take the message of unity to communities across the country.
The consultations have added another dimension to the emerging 2027 political contest, particularly in the North where religious, traditional and political networks continue to play significant roles in mobilisation.
Yari has previously openly advocated support for Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that political cooperation between the North and South should be sustained. In May, he said the North-West should reciprocate the political support he said the South-West gave former President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 and 2019 elections.
