From Adamawa chairman to North-East leader, his resilience is making him the eagle and the cheetah, always flying and running for APC victory
By Tom Garba
In the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where political leadership is often measured by organisational strength, strategic calculations and electoral outcomes, Barrister Idris Shuaibu, the party’s National Vice Chairman for the North-East, has emerged as a prominent figure whose supporters credit with energy, resilience and a strong commitment to the party’s growth.
From his tenure as Adamawa State APC chairman to his current national assignment covering six states, Shuaibu has built a reputation among party loyalists as a hardworking politician committed to strengthening the party’s structures, promoting internal cohesion and advancing its electoral fortunes.
One of the developments his supporters associate with his leadership in Adamawa is the political realignment that has strengthened the APC’s position in the state. The movement of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, alongside several political officeholders and local government chairmen, from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC has reshaped the state’s political landscape. For Shuaibu’s admirers, the development underscores the importance of consultation, strategic engagement and bridge-building in party politics.
His political approach, as described by those who believe in his leadership, is anchored on consensus rather than confrontation, inclusion rather than division, and sustained engagement rather than political grandstanding. In a party as broad and complex as the APC, such qualities are considered essential to maintaining unity and building a formidable political structure.
Shuaibu’s political message ahead of the 2027 general elections is straightforward: the APC must win. His supporters describe his Option A and Option B strategy as a determination to secure victory for President Bola Tinubu and other party candidates, regardless of the political challenges that may emerge before the elections.
Beyond the presidential contest, he is also expected to play a significant role in efforts to strengthen the APC’s chances in Adamawa State, particularly in support of its governorship candidate, Ahmed Aminu Galadima. The objective, according to his political camp, is to secure victory for the party across the board, from the presidential election to governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly contests.
As the APC’s North-East National Vice Chairman, Shuaibu’s responsibilities extend beyond his home state to Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe. Coordinating party interests across the six states requires sustained consultations, effective mobilisation and the ability to manage competing political interests while keeping the party’s larger objectives in focus.
Those familiar with his political style often portray him as a leader who combines the eagle’s vision with the cheetah’s speed. The analogy reflects their perception of his ability to anticipate political developments, identify opportunities and pursue party objectives with determination. His supporters maintain that he is relentless in building alliances, strengthening grassroots structures and engaging influential political stakeholders.
His political routine, they say, revolves around consultations with party leaders, engagements with stakeholders and visits to different states and local government areas. Such activities are considered crucial to maintaining contact with grassroots supporters, identifying emerging challenges and developing strategies to improve the APC’s electoral prospects, particularly in Adamawa, where political competition remains significant.
At a time when political parties are seeking to combine youthful energy with experience and strategic thinking, Shuaibu represents, to his admirers, a blend of dynamism, loyalty and organisational ambition. They see him as a party administrator who understands that electoral victories require more than public declarations; they demand planning, mobilisation, negotiation and sustained engagement with voters.
For the APC in the North-East, the task ahead is substantial. The party must consolidate its existing support base, manage internal differences, strengthen its grassroots presence and convince voters of the merits of its candidates and policies. Achieving these objectives will require cooperation among national and state leaders, as well as a willingness to respond to the concerns of ordinary citizens.
Shuaibu’s supporters believe his political drive and commitment to the party’s success could make him an important player in that effort. They envisage a 2027 electoral outcome in which Tinubu retains the presidency, Galadima secures the Adamawa governorship and APC candidates emerge victorious in other contests across the region.
Whether those ambitions translate into electoral success will ultimately depend on the party’s organisation, the candidates’ appeal, the prevailing political climate and the choices of voters. For now, however, Shuaibu’s admirers remain convinced that his determination, described in the language of the eagle and the cheetah, will be central to the APC’s preparations for the next general elections.
Tom Garba, ANIPR, SPSP, is a policy, political and crisis analyst. He writes from Jimeta, Adamawa State.
