By Lukman OMIKUNLE
Tinubu launches his 2027 re-election campaign in Kaduna as APC leaders rally support
Tinubu Launches 2027 Re-Election Bid in Kaduna
President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign opened in Kaduna with a show of force by the All Progressives Congress (APC), as governors, ministers, lawmakers and party supporters gathered to launch the ruling party’s nationwide mobilisation ahead of the presidential election.
The October 24 rally at Ranchers Bees Stadium, also known as Kaduna Township Stadium, featured appeals for Northern support, speeches defending the administration’s record and a direct push for Tinubu to secure another four-year term.
The flag-off marked the start of the APC’s campaign drive ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, according to the timetable announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The mobilisation began before the main event, with supporters arriving at the stadium in APC-branded clothing, carrying banners and portraits of Tinubu. Campaign songs, music and chants filled the venue, while a solidarity march through Kaduna metropolis on Friday set the stage for Saturday’s rally.
Tinubu’s arrival alongside Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and other dignitaries triggered chants of “Baba Oyoyo” from supporters. The reception reflected the party’s effort to project unity and enthusiasm as the president seeks a second term.
The rally brought together APC governors, ministers, lawmakers and senior party figures, with Campaign Director-General Abdulaziz Yari and other speakers urging supporters to mobilise behind Tinubu. The gathering was also intended to signal the party’s readiness to take its campaign to voters across the country.
Host governor Uba Sani used his address to highlight infrastructure, security, education and healthcare interventions in Kaduna State. He pointed to projects including the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari road and the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, as well as a proposed metropolitan rail project.
Sani also said more than 300 schools and over 150 primary healthcare centres that had previously shut because of insecurity had reopened. The claims formed part of his argument that the Tinubu administration’s policies and collaboration with state governments had produced gains for Kaduna and the wider North. The project status and figures, however, should be assessed against official records.
Tinubu thanked Kaduna residents for their support in the 2023 election and urged them to vote for him again in 2027. He explained his administration’s economic reforms, acknowledging the difficulties facing Nigerians while arguing that the decisions taken by his government were intended to address longstanding economic challenges.
The president also called on party supporters to work for APC candidates at all levels, making the rally an appeal not only for his own re-election but also for the party’s broader electoral ambitions.
Shettima, in his address, explained that the administration’s relationship with Northern Nigeria, pointing to federal projects, educational interventions and cooperation with state governments. His remarks underscored the importance of the region to the APC’s campaign strategy as the party seeks to retain support in a politically significant part of the country.
Yari also urged traditional rulers, Islamic scholars and community leaders to help mobilise voters for Tinubu. He described Kaduna’s selection as significant because of its position in the North-West, signalling the campaign council’s intention to work through influential local networks as the election approaches.
One of the rally’s unexpected moments came when Umahi’s microphone was taken away while he was speaking about a road project he wanted Tinubu to commission.
In footage reported after the event, the minister was heard saying: “With all humility, our dear President, our dear President and father, I request that you come over here to officially commission this very important route.”
The microphone was taken away before he could finish, cutting short his remarks. The available footage did not establish why the microphone was removed, and no explanation should be assumed without confirmation from the minister or the event organisers.
Despite the interruption, the rally delivered the APC’s central message, that Tinubu’s administration should be given another term to continue its policies and projects.
