Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The presidential running mate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has declared that the 2027 general election will be a defining struggle between oppressed Nigerians and those responsible for their oppression, while strongly faulting the composition of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council. Kwankwaso made the remark in a statement on Sunday, August 23, 2026, while reacting to the recently unveiled APC campaign council, which has President Bola Tinubu as chairman, former Zamfara State Governor Abdul’aziz Yari as Director-General, and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as secretary. The NDC chieftain said the APC campaign structure presents another scenario between the oppressors and the oppressed, urging Nigerians to use the 2027 election to reject continued oppression and demand accountable, people-centred governance.
Kwankwaso specifically appealed to Senator Abdul’aziz Yari to reconsider his decision to serve as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. He argued that Yari, having served as governor of Zamfara State and a prominent leader from the North-West, has a clear understanding of the devastating consequences of insecurity, poverty, unemployment, displacement and the destruction of livelihoods in the region and the country at large. "I therefore will be surprised if in his good conscience, (Yari) will lead a campaign whose principal objective is to secure the continuation of a government under which many of the people he once governed, and other innocent Nigerians remain trapped in these challenges?" Kwankwaso questioned. The former Kano State governor said the council put together by the APC raises a fundamental question on whether Nigerians are voting for "a new beginning, or the continuation of the same system that has brought severe hardship to our people" in 2027.
Kwankwaso also raised serious concerns over the reported inclusion of senior public officials in the campaign's fundraising and finance structures, specifically mentioning the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji, who was named Deputy Director of Fundraising, and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, who was listed as Secretary, Finance/Treasurer. He said the leadership of critical public institutions demands neutrality, integrity and public confidence, and it is legitimate to ask whether the responsibilities of senior officials entrusted with managing public revenue and national finances can appropriately coexist with senior partisan campaign roles. Kwankwaso called on the Federal Government and the APC to explain how the involvement of officials responsible for public revenue and national finances in partisan campaign structures aligns with institutional neutrality and public trust.
The NDC vice-presidential candidate listed rising living costs, unemployment, insecurity, declining opportunities for young Nigerians, difficulties confronting farmers and businesses, and pressure on education, healthcare and other essential public services among the challenges confronting Nigerians. He urged Nigerians to use the 2027 election to reject what he described as continued oppression and vote for accountable, people-centred governance. "If Osun people can do it, so can all other parts of the country," he said, referencing the recent Osun State governorship election. "Ultimately, no campaign council is more powerful than the Nigerian people," Kwankwaso declared. His comments suggest the NDC intends to position itself as the voice of Nigerians desperate for change from what he describes as a system designed to benefit the few at the expense of the many. As the 2027 election season gathers momentum, Kwankwaso's framing of the contest as a struggle between the oppressed and the oppressors is likely to resonate with a populace weary of economic hardship and systemic failure, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle that could redefine the country's political future.
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