Ahead of the upcoming 2027 general elections, the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, on Sunday led a high-powered delegation of prominent national political leaders on royal consultative visits to the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

The delegation also visited the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, in Ile Ife, Osun State.

The consultative tour marks the formal start of the campaign council’s nationwide engagements across traditional and political institutions

A 2-page notice issued by the Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Sunday night said the delegation departed from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after an early-morning assembly of party stakeholders.

The entourage included APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru; former APC National Chairman and one-time Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari.

Others in the team were former governors Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Sen. Ahmad Sani Yarima (Zamfara), Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), and Dr Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo).

Also present were former House of Representatives Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole; Rt. Hon. Patricia Etteh; Sen. Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi; and Rt. Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa.

The statement noted that the visits to the royal fathers aim to deepen engagement with royal institutions, foster mutual understanding, and seek their spiritual guidance.

“The visits are designed to strengthen engagement with traditional institutions, foster mutual understanding, and seek the support, blessings, and counsel of revered traditional leaders as part of the Council’s ongoing nationwide consultations,” the Council stated.

The campaign council emphasised that the delegation was not seeking direct partisan political endorsement or mobilisation but rather the moral and spiritual direction traditional authorities offer to the nation’s political landscape.

“The delegation made it clear that it was not seeking political endorsement or mobilisation support, but rather the prayers and blessings of the royal fathers, underscoring the moral and spiritual anchorage traditional rulers provide in the nation’s political process,” the press statement noted.

During the first leg of the visit to the Emir of Ilorin in Kwara State, party leaders reaffirmed their confidence in the APC’s electoral dominance in the state, pointing to major social and infrastructure developments accomplished since 2019.

“Citing progress recorded since 2019 — including the resolution of past challenges in education and healthcare delivery, the establishment of new hospitals, and far-reaching reforms — the leaders expressed optimism of consolidating the party’s dominance in Kwara State, which they estimated at 70 per cent against the opposition’s 30 per cent”

The delegation further said the campaign intends to leverage Kwara State’s political stability and the role of the Kwara State Governor as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to project national influence.

After meeting the Emir, the entourage proceeded to Ile-Ife in Osun State to pay homage to the Ooni of Ife. (The Nation)