The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday set the stage for its 2027 presidential campaign with a rally in Kaduna, where President Bola Tinubu urged voters to renew his mandate while blaming previous administrations for the country’s economic challenges.

As early as 7 am, supporters began arriving at the Ranchers Bees Stadium, Kaduna, wearing colourful T-shirts with inscriptions promoting Tinubu’s second-term bid.

Seven governors, including Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina, Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara and Nasir Idris of Kebbi, alongside other APC leaders, received the president at the Kaduna International Airport.

Although the rally was scheduled for 10 am, Tinubu arrived at the airport shortly after 2 pm. He reached the stadium a few minutes before 3 pm and left shortly after 4 pm.

Thousands of supporters lined the major roads leading to the venue, singing and dancing as the presidential convoy passed. Local drummers and entertainers also added colour to the reception.

Soldiers, police officers, civil defence personnel, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies were deployed to strategic locations.

Major roads leading to the stadium were also blocked during the visit.

Tinubu blames opposition for hunger

Addressing the crowd, Tinubu urged voters not to be misled by opposition parties ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

He blamed previous administrations for the hunger and poverty facing Nigerians, saying his government was working to reverse years of economic mismanagement.

“I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. But who created these problems? They created them, and we are working to eradicate them,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to renew his mandate, promising to consolidate what he described as ongoing economic recovery efforts.

Tinubu said his government had laid the foundation for prosperity and growth, while creating opportunities for citizens.

The president also defended the removal of fuel subsidy, insisting that the policy was necessary to address corruption and economic leakages.

However, a moment of drama occurred when Tinubu shouted “Nigeria!”, apparently expecting the crowd to respond with “Sai Tinubu!” Instead, a section of the crowd chanted “Ba ma yi,” meaning “We don’t want.”

President Tinubu was shielded by a bulletproof glass enclosure during the campaign rally, as security agencies mounted extensive measures around the venue and along major roads.

The glass enclosure, positioned around the president’s seat, was one of the most noticeable features of the rally.

Security was heightened across Kaduna metropolis ahead of Tinubu’s arrival. Major roads along his convoy route were placed under heavy surveillance, while several roads leading to the venue were temporarily closed to traffic.

Armed personnel from various security agencies were deployed at strategic locations, including road intersections, access points and within the stadium.

Tinubu gave you political refuge in 2007, Shettima tells Atiku

Vice President Kashim Shettima took a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, recalling that Tinubu gave him political support and a platform to contest the presidency after his fallout with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.

Shettima said Tinubu had consistently supported northern politicians and deserved the region’s backing for a second term.

“It is pertinent to mention that when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was harassed and chased out of the PDP in 2007, he ran to the Lion of Bourdillon, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who gave him political succour, support and a platform to contest for the presidency,” Shettima said.

He also recalled that Tinubu supported Ribadu’s presidential ambition in 2011 and played a key role in Buhari’s victories in the 2015 and 2019 elections.

The vice president said the APC’s appeal to northern voters was based on its record in office rather than sentiment.

He cited investments in education, including the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, the upgrade of the Federal University of Education, Zaria, and funding for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

He also listed major infrastructure projects, including the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, Kano-Maradi railway, Lagos-Kano rail corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway and Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway.

Uba Sani: Tinubu has done more for North than any leader

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani said Tinubu had done more for Northern Nigeria than any previous leader, citing road reconstruction and support for agricultural transformation.

He urged voters in the region to support the president’s re-election bid, highlighting infrastructure projects and the administration’s technical and vocational education programme.

Sani said the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, which connects 12 states across the North-West, North-Central and North-East, was 95 per cent complete.

He recalled that during a visit to Tinubu two years ago, he had stressed the importance of the road, which he described as one of the most strategic highways in Northern Nigeria.

According to him, the president assured him that the Federal Government would provide the N740 billion required for the reconstruction.

Sani identified insecurity and inadequate funding as the major reasons the project had previously stalled.

He, however, said security along the road had improved, adding that more than 90 per cent of those who travelled from Abuja to Kaduna for the rally used the highway.

The governor also challenged opposition politicians to present their records of performance rather than rely on appeals to regional identity.

“When someone came to us and said we should vote for him simply because he is a northern candidate, we asked him: Can you show us your track record?

“Until this moment, the so-called Northern candidate has not shown us his track record, Mr President. No track record,” he said.

North will give Tinubu 100 per cent support – Yari

The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Yari, has assured President Tinubu of overwhelming support from northern Nigeria.

Yari said the campaign council was committed to mobilising support across the North through engagements with traditional rulers, Islamic scholars, imams and other influential stakeholders.

“Northern Nigeria is 100% yours, insha Allah. This is the promise that we make, and you are going to see it in January 2027,” Yari said.

According to him, the APC intends to use its campaign to communicate the government’s policies and achievements to Nigerians, particularly in the northern region.

Yari said engagements with traditional and religious leaders were part of efforts to explain the administration’s programmes and encourage support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He also defended the government’s relationship with farmers, dismissing allegations that the administration had neglected the agricultural sector.

The APC chieftain claimed that about two million farmers had committed to supporting Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Media stand collapses during rally

A stand designated for journalists covering the APC rally in Kaduna collapsed in the middle of the event, causing dozens of cameramen and their equipment to fall to the ground.

The incident occurred while media personnel from various organisations were filming and photographing proceedings at the rally. Some of the affected journalists were also livestreaming the event when the structure gave way.

There were no reports of injuries, but the collapse temporarily disrupted media coverage as journalists scrambled to retrieve their cameras and reposition themselves.

The development also created visibility challenges for many of the cameramen, who struggled to secure clear vantage points after the incident, with some unable to maintain uninterrupted coverage of speakers at the event due to obstruction from the crowd and other structures. (Daily Trust)