How APC set stage for 2027 presidential campaign – Daily Trust

From Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, Sani Ibrahim Paki & Muhammad Ibrahim Yaba, Kaduna

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday set the stage for its 2027 presidential campaign with a rally in Kaduna, the place President Bola Tinubu urged voters to resume his mandate whereas blaming earlier administrations for the nation’s financial challenges.

As early as 7 am, supporters started arriving on the Ranchers Bees Stadium, Kaduna, carrying vibrant T-shirts with inscriptions selling Tinubu’s second-term bid.

Seven governors, together with 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 different APC leaders, obtained the president on the Kaduna International Airport.

Although the rally was scheduled for 10 am, Tinubu arrived on the airport shortly after 2 pm. He reached the stadium a couple of minutes earlier than 3 pm and left shortly after 4 pm.

Thousands of supporters lined the main roads resulting in the venue, singing and dancing because the presidential convoy handed. Local drummers and entertainers additionally added color to the reception.

Soldiers, law enforcement officials, civil defence personnel, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and different safety companies have been deployed to strategic areas.

Major roads resulting in the stadium have been additionally blocked through the go to.

Tinubu blames opposition for starvation

Addressing the group, Tinubu urged voters to not be misled by opposition events forward of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

He blamed earlier administrations for the starvation and poverty going through Nigerians, saying his authorities was working to reverse years of financial 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 mentioned.

He urged Nigerians to resume his mandate, promising to consolidate what he described as ongoing financial restoration efforts.

Tinubu mentioned his authorities had laid the inspiration for prosperity and progress, whereas creating alternatives for residents.

The president additionally defended the elimination of gasoline subsidy, insisting that the coverage was essential to handle corruption and financial leakages.

However, a second of drama occurred when Tinubu shouted “Nigeria!”, apparently anticipating the group to reply with “Sai Tinubu!” Instead, a bit of the group chanted “Ba ma yi,” which means “We don’t want.”

President Tinubu was shielded by a bulletproof glass enclosure through the campaign rally, as safety companies mounted in depth measures across the venue and alongside main roads.

The glass enclosure, positioned across the president’s seat, was one of the noticeable options of the rally.

Security was heightened throughout Kaduna metropolis forward of Tinubu’s arrival. Major roads alongside his convoy route have been positioned underneath heavy surveillance, whereas a number of roads resulting in the venue have been quickly closed to visitors.

Armed personnel from numerous safety companies have been deployed at strategic areas, together with highway intersections, entry factors and throughout 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 help and a platform to contest the presidency after his fallout with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.

Shettima mentioned Tinubu had constantly supported northern politicians and deserved the area’s backing for a second time period.

“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 mentioned.

He additionally recalled that Tinubu supported Ribadu’s presidential ambition in 2011 and performed a key function in Buhari’s victories within the 2015 and 2019 elections.

The vp mentioned the APC’s attraction to northern voters was based mostly on its file in workplace fairly than sentiment.

He cited investments in training, together with the institution of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, the improve of the Federal University of Education, Zaria, and funding for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

He additionally listed main infrastructure initiatives, together with the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, Kano-Maradi railway, Lagos-Kano rail hall, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano freeway and Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway.

Uba Sani: Tinubu has carried out extra for North than any chief

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani mentioned Tinubu had carried out extra for Northern Nigeria than any earlier chief, citing highway reconstruction and help for agricultural transformation.

He urged voters within the area to help the president’s re-election bid, highlighting infrastructure initiatives and the administration’s technical and vocational training programme.

Sani mentioned the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, which connects 12 states throughout the North-West, North-Central and North-East, was 95 per cent full.

He recalled that in a go to to Tinubu two years in the past, he had confused the significance of the highway, which he described as one of the strategic highways in Northern Nigeria.

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

Sani recognized insecurity and insufficient funding as the main causes the challenge had beforehand stalled.

He, nevertheless, mentioned safety alongside the highway had improved, including that greater than 90 per cent of those that travelled from Abuja to Kaduna for the rally used the freeway.

The governor additionally challenged opposition politicians to current their information of efficiency fairly than depend on appeals to regional id.

“When somebody got here to us and mentioned we should always vote for him just because he’s a northern candidate, we requested him: Can you present us your observe file?

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

North will give Tinubu 100 per cent help – Yari

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

Yari mentioned the campaign council was dedicated to mobilising help throughout the North by means of engagements with conventional rulers, Islamic students, imams and different 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 mentioned.

According to him, the APC intends to make use of its campaign to speak the federal government’s insurance policies and achievements to Nigerians, notably within the northern area.

Yari mentioned engagements with conventional and spiritual leaders have been a part of efforts to clarify the administration’s programmes and encourage help for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He additionally defended the federal government’s relationship with farmers, dismissing allegations that the administration had uncared for the agricultural sector.

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

Media stand collapses throughout rally

A stand designated for journalists overlaying the APC rally in Kaduna collapsed in the course of the occasion, inflicting dozens of cameramen and their gear to fall to the bottom.

The incident occurred whereas media personnel from numerous organisations have been filming and photographing proceedings on the rally. Some of the affected journalists have been additionally livestreaming the occasion when the construction gave method.

There have been no stories of accidents, however the collapse quickly disrupted media protection as journalists scrambled to retrieve their cameras and reposition themselves.

The growth additionally created visibility challenges for lots of the cameramen, who struggled to safe clear vantage factors after the incident, with some unable to keep up uninterrupted protection of audio system on the occasion because of obstruction from the group and different constructions.