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, sporting 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, acquired 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 foremost roads resulting in the venue, singing and dancing because the presidential convoy handed. Local drummers and entertainers additionally added color to the reception.

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

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

Tinubu blames opposition for starvation

Addressing the gang, 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 dealing with 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 stated.

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

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

The president additionally defended the removing of gas 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 gang to reply with “Sai Tinubu!” Instead, a bit of the gang chanted “Ba ma yi,” which means “We don’t want.”

President Tinubu was shielded by a bulletproof glass enclosure in the course of the campaign rally, as safety businesses mounted intensive measures across the venue and alongside main roads.

The glass enclosure, positioned across the president’s seat, was one of the crucial 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 below heavy surveillance, whereas a number of roads resulting in the venue have been quickly closed to site visitors.

Armed personnel from varied safety businesses have been deployed at strategic areas, together with street 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 assist and a platform to contest the presidency after his fallout with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.

Shettima stated 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 stated.

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

The vice chairman stated the APC’s enchantment to northern voters was primarily based on its report in workplace somewhat than sentiment.

He cited investments in schooling, 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 performed extra for North than any chief

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani stated Tinubu had performed extra for Northern Nigeria than any earlier chief, citing street reconstruction and assist for agricultural transformation.

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

Sani stated 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 burdened the significance of the street, which he described as one of the crucial 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 foremost causes the venture had beforehand stalled.

He, nevertheless, stated safety alongside the street 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 data of efficiency somewhat than depend on appeals to regional identification.

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

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

North will give Tinubu 100 per cent assist – Yari

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

Yari stated the campaign council was dedicated to mobilising assist throughout the North by 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 stated.

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

Yari stated engagements with conventional and spiritual leaders have been a part of efforts to elucidate the administration’s programmes and encourage assist 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 protecting the APC rally in Kaduna collapsed in the midst of the occasion, inflicting dozens of cameramen and their gear to fall to the bottom.

The incident occurred whereas media personnel from varied 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 approach.

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

The improvement 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 on account of obstruction from the gang and different buildings.