President Bola Tinubu is set to officially launch his 2027 re-election campaign in Kaduna on October 24, according to Senator Abdulaziz Yari, the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.
Yari shared this development with State House correspondents on Friday evening, shortly after briefing the President on the council’s preparations at the Aso Rock Villa.
“By God’s grace, the President, his team, and I have finalized the strategy,” Yari said. “The inaugural meeting of the campaign council is scheduled for next Wednesday, October 14, at the State House Banquet Hall. We will then proceed to flag off the campaign in Kaduna on the 24th.”
He confirmed that the President had reviewed and approved the proposed itinerary for state visits, noting, “We are going to hit the ground running by October 24.” Following the Kaduna event, the campaign trail will move to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and then to Maiduguri, Borno State, with the full schedule to be released following next week’s inauguration.
Addressing the challenge posed by opposition candidates—specifically Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—Yari dismissed concerns about the President’s re-election prospects. He framed the contest in theological and strategic terms, arguing that Tinubu’s political history with both men remains a barrier to their success against him.
“This is a President whom Almighty God used to support Atiku in the past, and at the same time to support Peter Obi,” Yari said. “If Allah used me to support you, there is no way He will then use you to bring me down.”
The former Zamfara State governor further dismissed the viability of his rivals by emphasizing the necessity of a broad geographical base. He argued that presidential victory in Nigeria requires a balance of support from both the North and the South, a feat he claims only the APC has achieved.
“Can any candidate beat their chest and say they have control of even one state in the opposing region?” Yari asked. “If you control 80 percent of the South but nothing in the North, you cannot make it. Conversely, if you have 80 percent of the North but no foothold in the South, you also cannot win.”
Drawing a historical comparison, Yari pointed to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who, despite commanding significant northern support, struggled to secure the presidency until he broadened his national appeal. He asserted that President Tinubu currently holds a stronger position, with a conservative estimate of over 10 states under his control in both the North and the South.
“This is calculation; it is not rocket science,” Yari insisted. “The economy is moving, and we have a track record to show the electorate. We aren’t just making promises—we are doing the work, and we will continue.”
President Tinubu appointed Yari as the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council on August 22, 2026, with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma serving as Secretary. The President chairs the council, supported by Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.
With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduling the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, the campaign window, which opened on August 19, 2026, is now entering its most intense phase.
