Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has faulted the inclusion of Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), and Taminu Yakubu, director-general of the Budget Office of the Federation, in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council for the 2027 elections.
On Saturday, the ruling party unveiled a 108-member campaign council for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The party named Abdulaziz Yari, senator representing Zamfara west, and Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, as director-general and secretary of the council, respectively.
The ruling party also named Yakubu as the treasurer of the campaign council, while Adedeji was appointed deputy director of fundraising.
In a statement, Kwankwaso said the inclusion of Adedeji and Yakubu on the list undermines the institutional neutrality of the agencies they lead.
“The leadership of critical public institutions demands neutrality, integrity and public confidence. It is therefore 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 said.
Kwankwaso said the composition of the APC campaign council should be a source of concern for “all well-meaning Nigerians” amid the rising cost of food and basic necessities.
“Young Nigerians face unemployment and diminishing opportunities. Farmers and businesses are struggling to survive, while millions continue to live with insecurity. Our education, healthcare and other essential public services remain under enormous pressure,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to reject what he called “continued oppression and demand accountable, people-oriented governance”.
Kwankwaso also appealed to Yari to “reflect deeply and reconsider his acceptance” of the director-general role of the APC campaign council.
“As a former governor of Zamfara State and a prominent leader from the North-West, I believe Senator Yari 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,” Kwankwaso said.
“I therefore will be surprised if, in his good conscience, he 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.”
The running mate to Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the NDC, added that the 2027 general election is “a struggle between the oppressed Nigerian masses and those who have benefited from, defended and sustained the system responsible for their hardship”.
