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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Kaduna state for the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.
The President was received by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani and other party leaders ahead of the rally scheduled to hold at the Kaduna Township Stadium. Blueprint reports
The event is expected to bring together APC governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly, party officials, political stakeholders and supporters from different parts of the country.
The campaign flag-off marks the beginning of the ruling party’s efforts to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election bid and strengthen its political structures ahead of the 2027 general election.
Supporters converge on Kaduna
Political activities intensified across Kaduna metropolis ahead of the rally, as supporters arrived from different parts of the country to participate in the event.
Many supporters were seen wearing APC-branded shirts, caps and other campaign materials bearing the images of Tinubu, Shettima and Governor Uba Sani.
The gathering is expected to provide a platform for the party’s leadership to engage its supporters, reinforce mobilisation efforts and communicate its priorities ahead of the election.
On Friday, a solidarity procession organised by the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s Support Group Directorate moved through parts of Kaduna metropolis before proceeding to the Government House, where Governor Uba Sani received the delegation.
The procession, led by Silas Agara, head of the Support Group Directorate, formed part of activities aimed at building momentum ahead of the presidential campaign flag-off.
Agara stressed the importance of coordinating support groups and encouraging them to communicate the party’s policies and programmes to voters.
Security arrangements strengthened
Security arrangements were strengthened across Kaduna ahead of the presidential visit, with personnel deployed to strategic locations and major roads leading to the rally venue.
The preparations involved security agencies at the state and federal levels, with measures put in place to manage the expected crowd and maintain order during the event.
Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe, who chairs the Local Organising Committee, said the committee had consulted security officials as part of preparations for the rally.
She explained that arrangements included screening participants before entry into the stadium and inspecting facilities to ensure the venue was ready to accommodate attendees.
The preparations also covered seating arrangements, holding areas and other facilities required for the event.
Campaign posters, banners and billboards bearing the images of the President and other APC leaders were displayed at prominent locations across the metropolis, particularly along routes leading to the stadium.
State government highlights preparations
The Kaduna state government said preparations had been made to receive party leaders and supporters expected to attend the rally.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, said mobilisation was ongoing ahead of the event and disclosed that hotels and service apartments across the metropolis had recorded high demand.
He also highlighted federal projects and initiatives involving Kaduna State, including the conversion of the Federal College of Education in Zaria to a university, the proposed conversion of Kaduna Polytechnic to a federal university of technology, the Mando-Birnin Gwari road project and the proposed Kaduna light rail project.
The projects formed part of the state government’s account of its relationship with the Federal Government and the benefits it said had accrued to the state.
The campaign is also expected to provide an opportunity for the APC to present its record in government and outline its priorities as the country approaches another general election.
Kaduna’s political significance
The choice of Kaduna for the campaign flag-off places the North-West at the centre of the APC’s early mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general election.
The region is politically significant because of its large electorate and the role its states play in national elections.
Kaduna also remains an important electoral battleground. In the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party defeated Tinubu in the state, making it one of the areas where the APC will seek to expand its support base.
The campaign flag-off therefore offers the ruling party an opportunity to consolidate its structures, strengthen relationships with political stakeholders and reach voters as preparations for the election gather momentum.
Issues such as the cost of living, insecurity, employment, infrastructure and economic opportunities are expected to feature prominently in the wider political debate as parties present their records and proposals to the electorate.
APC prepares for wider mobilisation
The Kaduna rally forms part of the APC’s broader efforts to mobilise support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition and extend its campaign activities across the country.
The party is expected to use subsequent rallies and engagements to reach supporters in other regions, coordinate its state structures and communicate its message ahead of the election.
Beyond attendance and public displays of support, the campaign will provide a platform for the ruling party to explain its policies and seek renewed public confidence in its administration.
The opposition parties are also expected to intensify their activities as the political contest develops.
With the presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna, the APC has begun a fresh phase of political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election, as the parties prepare to present their records, priorities and proposals to Nigerian voters.
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