Senator Abubakar Girei expresses optimism about APC's readiness to recapture Adamawa in 2027
In this interview with newsmen in Abuja, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, Sen. Abubakar Halilu Girei, explained that the party is working tirelessly to consolidate unity, deepen internal democracy, and guarantee inclusiveness ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He noted that the party is deliberately strengthening its internal structures to ensure orderly, credible, and transparent processes where all aspirants are fairly accommodated.
According to him, with the solid framework being put in place, the APC is well positioned to win across all elective positions in Adamawa State come 2027.
Excerpts:
*You are credited with championing the formation of the Adamawa Progressive Elders Council. What informed its creation, especially with the 2027 elections drawing nearer?*
*Girei* : The formation of the Adamawa Progressive Elders Council is one of the important recommendations of Sen. Mana's Reconciliation Committee which I was privileged to serve as a member. The committee was set up by the APC leader in Adamawa State and the national leadership of APC in Abuja. The recommendation for the council along with others was aimed at promoting order, fairness, and internal harmony within our party as we approach another election cycle. The committee's findings was that APC lost the elections in 2019 and 2023 due mainly to disagreement among its party members.
As elders, leaders of thought, and stakeholders, including the leader of the party, we collectively recognized the need to create a structure that further strengthens and reinforces unity, discipline, cohesion, and inclusiveness in the APC.
These ideals cannot be achieved without mechanisms that give every aspirant, regardless of background or affiliation, an equal opportunity to participate in party congresses and primaries.
It was on this basis that we deemed it necessary to establish the council as an umbrella body that listens, guides, reconciles, and ensures that everyone is carried along. Following our earlier reconciliation efforts, which recorded remarkable success, we felt it was time to consolidate the gains by putting in place a more comprehensive platform that will institutionalize harmony and inclusiveness.
On the 6th of November 2025, the convener of the council organized a historic maiden meeting of the steering committee to midwife what is now the Adamawa Progressive Elders Council.
As I said, the meeting was chaired by the convener, a highly respected, experienced and cosmopolitan leader whose commitment to the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and success of the APC in Adamawa State in line with the broader vision of our leader, gave birth to the Elders Council. As a follow up to that meeting, the convener organized another meeting on Saturday which was attended by over 90 percent of the council's membership. The council is right now on track and will not leave any stone unturned in achieving its core mandates.
The noble idea behind the establishment of the council, as I said earlier, stems from the recommendations of the APC Reconciliation Committee in Adamawa State.
Following the success of the committee in reuniting our members, our leader, directed the convener and other notable elders to lead the council and deploy their wealth of experience to ensure that APC succeeds in Adamawa State. At the meeting, we agreed that the secretariat would develop a clear roadmap to achieve the objectives discussed.
Some critical concerns including issues of legitimacy, operational modalities, and inclusive representation will be handled jointly by the party’s leadership and the Elders Council. There was a strong consensus that the council is fully committed to deliver majority votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 and ensure victory for all APC candidates across Adamawa State.
During the meeting, the convener also directed the committee to nominate credible persons with unimpeachable integrity who are not contesting any offices in 2027, taking into account gender, geographical spread and socio-cultural diversity.
*Some observers claim the council was formed to counter the influence of the party leader in Adamawa State and prevent him from supporting and anointing a preferred aspirant. How do you respond to this?*
*Girei* : I want to say with all sense of duty that such assumptions are entirely unfounded. They appear to come from the opposition, mischief makers, or from misconceptions or perhaps the anxiety of a few individuals who may be uncomfortable with transparent, rule-based processes which remain the cornerstone of credible democracies worldwide.
In reality, the contrary is true: our leader played a pivotal role by blessing the formation of the council. Not only did he support the idea wholeheartedly, but he also contributed significantly to the identification of prominent members who now constitute the council.
The suggestion that the council was formed to diminish his influence is, therefore, a misunderstanding of both the intent and the process. Our respected brother and leader is fully aware of each step we are taking, has given his blessings, and remains an integral part of the effort to reposition the party. Any claims to the contrary do not reflect the true situation on ground.
*It is also alleged that you are sponsoring one ‘Abbah Kawu’ to challenge a purported candidate associated with the leader of APC in Adamawa. What is your take on this?*
*Girei* : I must say, with all due respect, that this assertion appears to be based on misinformation. I am not aware of the existence of any person with an iota of political significance by that name within our structures or within the wider political space in Adamawa State. That is the main reason why I did not want to dignify such fake news makers with any response. Silence is the best answer to such mischief makers.
When such reports surfaced, several colleagues and associates across the country contacted me to seek clarification, as they were unfamiliar with the name in question. I informed them, just as I am stating now, that I do not know the individual and have no association with any such political aspiration.
It would be impractical and indeed impossible for anyone to support an aspirant who does not exist within the political landscape of the state. This reinforces the fact that the report was merely speculative and not grounded in facts and reality.
*Nigeria has recently witnessed high-profile defections from the PDP and other parties to the APC. Some believe the APC is attempting to turn the* *country into a one-party state. What is your perspective?*
*Girei* : The recent wave of defections to the APC is largely due to internal challenges within some opposition parties, ranging from leadership disputes to concerns about inclusiveness and direction. Many of those crossing over have cited these issues openly.
A few days before the PDP’s convention, for instance, there were visible signs of division, with factions contesting control of the national secretariat. Legal contestations were ongoing, raising uncertainties about the convention itself.
Beyond this, Nigerians are responding positively to the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which are gradually yielding tangible results in terms of economic recovery and institutional reforms. These developments have strengthened public confidence in the APC and encouraged many political leaders to identify with the party.
The idea that the APC is attempting to create a one-party state does not reflect the reality. What we are witnessing is simply the natural political response to effective governance and internal stability. Nigerians are embracing the party out of conviction, not the other way round.
*That was Senator Abubakar Halilu Girei a Chieftain of APC* *in Adamawa State baring his mind on critical political issues.
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