Vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, has criticised the appointment of Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Executive Chairman Zacch Adedeji and Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Taminu Yakubu, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council for the 2027 presidential election.
The APC unveiled a 108-member campaign council on Saturday to coordinate President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, appointing former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as Secretary.
Yakubu was named Treasurer of the campaign council, while Adedeji was appointed Deputy Director of Fundraising.
Reacting to the appointments, Kwankwaso questioned whether senior officials responsible for managing public revenue and national finances should simultaneously occupy prominent partisan positions.
He argued that the involvement of the two officials could undermine public confidence in the neutrality and independence of the institutions they head.
“The leadership of critical public institutions demands neutrality, integrity and public confidence,” Kwankwaso said.
According to him, the development raises concerns about the ability of the affected officials to maintain institutional neutrality while actively participating in the ruling party’s re-election campaign.
Kwankwaso Raises Economic Concerns
Kwankwaso also used the opportunity to highlight the economic and social challenges confronting Nigerians, including rising living costs, unemployment, insecurity and pressure on essential public services.
He said many farmers and businesses were struggling, while the education and healthcare sectors continued to face significant challenges.
The NDC vice-presidential candidate urged Nigerians to reject what he described as continued oppression and demand a more accountable and people-focused government.
He also appealed to Yari to reconsider his decision to lead the APC campaign council, arguing that his experience as a former governor of Zamfara should give him a clear understanding of the challenges facing citizens, particularly in the North-West.
Kwankwaso cited insecurity, poverty, unemployment, displacement and destruction of livelihoods among the problems affecting communities across the region and the country.
He questioned whether Yari would be comfortable leading a campaign aimed at extending the tenure of an administration under which, according to him, many Nigerians continue to struggle with those challenges.
2027 Election Will Be a Major Contest
Kwankwaso described the 2027 general election as a major contest over the direction of Nigeria’s future.
He framed the election as a battle between Nigerians struggling with economic hardship and those he accused of benefiting from or sustaining the current system.
The development adds another layer to the increasingly competitive political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with opposition parties expected to intensify their scrutiny of the Tinubu administration and the APC campaign structure.
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