Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s security challenges, arguing during a political visit to Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, on Monday, 19 October 2026, that even former President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired army general, could not completely eliminate insecurity during his administration.

Yari acknowledged the difficulties confronting the country but maintained that Tinubu’s government was making efforts to address them.

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His remarks came as the APC intensified political engagements ahead of the 2027 general election, with Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris and other party leaders publicly expressing support for the President’s second-term ambition.

“If a retired general did his best but could not completely tackle insecurity, what do you expect of President Tinubu, who is not a general?” Yari asked.

“Nevertheless, the President has done his utmost best to address the security challenges confronting the country,” he added.

The comments offer a glimpse into the APC’s emerging political defence of Tinubu’s record as the administration approaches another electoral contest.

By invoking Buhari’s military career, Yari sought to frame insecurity as a persistent national problem that cannot be resolved solely through the background or professional experience of an individual president.

However, the comparison also places the administration’s security performance within a longer period of public concern over kidnapping, banditry, insurgency and attacks on communities across parts of Nigeria.

While successive governments have introduced military operations and other security measures, the continued occurrence of such incidents remains a major concern for affected residents.

Yari made the remarks during a visit to Kebbi State, where he met Idris, traditional rulers and APC stakeholders in Birnin Kebbi.

The gathering included emirs who assembled at the palace of the Emir of Gwandu to receive the visiting campaign delegation.

The visit combined political mobilisation with an appeal for collective responsibility in addressing the country’s challenges.

Yari urged Nigerians to reflect on their relationship with God, arguing that tackling insecurity required more than government action alone.

He also praised the Kebbi governor and other party leaders for their efforts to mobilise support for the APC, expressing confidence that the party would perform strongly in the state during the 2027 elections.

“We are leading the campaign for the President’s re-election and other candidates of our party. We appreciate you for bringing the emirs together under one umbrella at the Emir of Gwandu’s palace,” Yari said.

“We recognise what you are doing as governors and your contributions towards ensuring victory for our party in 2027,” he added.

Yari said the campaign council intended to work with individuals and groups committed to Tinubu’s re-election, regardless of their positions, as the APC sought to strengthen its political network ahead of the polls.

His remarks also touched on the economic pressures facing Nigerian households.

Yari acknowledged that many citizens were experiencing hardship but argued that the situation was not unique to Nigeria, pointing to economic challenges in countries such as the United States and Saudi Arabia.

He claimed that inflation had declined and fertiliser prices had fallen, while the Federal Government was implementing measures intended to ease the burden on vulnerable households, including cash transfers.

The claims reflect the administration’s broader economic defence, which emphasises policy reforms and support programmes intended to improve living conditions.

However, the extent to which households have experienced relief varies, and the impact of these measures should be assessed against independently published inflation figures, food prices, income levels and evidence of cash-transfer delivery.

For many Nigerians, the relationship between economic reform and everyday living costs remains a central political issue.

Food affordability, transport expenses, energy prices and access to employment are among the factors likely to shape public assessments of the government before the next general election.

In his response, Idris welcomed the campaign delegation and described the gathering of APC leaders and traditional rulers as a demonstration of solidarity with the party and the President.

The governor said Kebbi had benefited from Federal Government projects under Tinubu’s administration and argued that the initiatives had strengthened support for the President within the state.

“We have no reason not to support the President. We have prominent leaders such as Senator Atiku Bagudu, Senator Adamu Aliero and Ambassador Saidu Dakingari,” Idris said.

“You have seen the people of Kebbi and their overwhelming support. We are for the APC, and we are for President Tinubu,” he added.

Idris expressed confidence that Kebbi would remain supportive of the APC as the 2027 election approached.

His remarks underline the importance of state-level political alliances to the ruling party’s re-election strategy, particularly its efforts to consolidate support among elected officials, traditional institutions and party structures.

Nevertheless, public declarations of political support do not by themselves establish how voters will ultimately cast their ballots.

The election outcome will depend on a range of factors, including security conditions, economic circumstances, party organisation, candidates and voters’ assessments of the administration’s record.

Yari’s defence of Tinubu places insecurity at the centre of that political debate.

While the APC campaign leadership is emphasising the difficulty of resolving a challenge that has persisted across administrations, the government will continue to face demands from citizens for measurable improvements in safety and the protection of communities.

As political mobilisation gathers pace ahead of 2027, the challenge for the Tinubu administration will be to demonstrate that its policies are producing tangible results.

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For voters weighing the President’s record, assurances of continued effort will carry the greatest weight when accompanied by verifiable progress in security, household welfare and economic stability.