As part of consultations with faith-based stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari on Monday, met with Muslim clerics across certain states in the North-Central, North-West and North-East geopolitical zones in the country.
The meetings, which commenced in Jos, Plateau state, took Senator Yari and his team to Kano, Kaduna and Bauchi states where he met with Muslim scholars who are leaders of the Izala, Tijjaniyya, JIBWIS and Qadiriyya sects.
On the entourage of the former Zamfara state governor to seek the buy-in of the religious leaders for President Tinubu fresh term aspirations were former Kano State Governor and APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Adamu Aliero; Senator Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura; National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Bashiru; and former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
Also on the consultative tour were Honourable James Abiodun Faleke and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase.
In Jos, Senator Yari and his team were received by Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, Chairman of the Council of Ulama of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS).
In Bauchi, the delegation was received by Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi, Khalifa of the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Zawiya, who prayed for President Tinubu, and urged that dialogue between the state and the religious community be sustained, not seasonal.
While in Kaduna, Senator Yari had a long deliberations with Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, National Chairman of Kaduna faction of JIBWIS on various issues that touched on burning national issues: security, economic hardship and how to sustain mutual trust in communities of diverse ethnic nationalities.
In his remarks, Sheikh Bala Lau, commended Senator Yari for extending hands of fellowship but admonished leaders at every level to listen more and to speak to the people with sincerity.
In Kano where the APC leaders concluded their consultations with Muslim clerics, Senator Yari met with leader of the Qadiriyya movement, Sheikh Qaribullahi Nasiru Kabara, who offered special prayers for peace in Nigeria and for the success of the Council’s work.
He further urged the delegation to carry the message of unity to every corner of the federation.
