Subscribe: Gist E-Paper
President Bola Tinubu on Saturday launched the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna State, beginning the ruling party’s mobilisation for the 2027 general election.
The campaign rally, held at the Kaduna Township Stadium, attracted Vice-President Kashim Shettima, APC governors, party leaders, federal and state lawmakers, political stakeholders and supporters from across the country.
The flag-off marks the beginning of the APC’s drive to secure a second presidential term for Tinubu, with the party expected to promote its achievements, defend its economic reforms and outline its policy priorities under the proposed Renewed Hope 2.0 agenda.
Kaduna’s selection for the campaign launch underscores the strategic importance of the North-West, a region with a substantial voting population and considerable influence on presidential election outcomes.
The APC faces a significant challenge in Kaduna, where the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, defeated Tinubu in the 2023 election. The rally therefore provides the ruling party an opportunity to strengthen its grassroots structures and regain electoral support in the state.
Addressing supporters, Shettima appealed to Northern voters, highlighting Tinubu’s political relationships with prominent Northern leaders, including Atiku, Nuhu Ribadu and the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Vice-President’s appeal reflects the APC’s determination to consolidate its support in the North as the party intensifies preparations for the presidential contest.
The Renewed Hope 2.0 agenda is expected to feature prominently in the campaign, providing a platform for Tinubu to explain his administration’s economic policies and outline plans for another term.
However, the President’s record on economic reforms, rising living costs, petrol prices, employment, infrastructure and insecurity is expected to attract considerable scrutiny during the electioneering period.
The extent to which the administration’s policies have improved the living conditions of Nigerians is likely to remain a major issue as voters assess the ruling party against opposition alternatives.
Security was tightened across Kaduna metropolis ahead of the rally, with personnel from the military, police, Department of State Services and other security agencies deployed to strategic locations. Road restrictions around major routes reportedly caused traffic congestion.
The Kaduna rally signals the beginning of an increasingly competitive political contest, with the APC seeking to defend its record and persuade Nigerians to renew Tinubu’s mandate, while opposition parties are expected to intensify their own mobilisation efforts.
As the campaign gathers momentum, economic hardship, security, job creation and access to public services are expected to dominate political debates ahead of the February 6, 2027 presidential election.
