2027: Atiku’s Camp Reacts As Tinubu, APC Storm Kaduna For Mega Campaign Flag-Off Amid Ebola Scare
2027: Atiku’s Camp Reacts As Tinubu, APC Storm Kaduna For Mega Campaign Flag-Off Amid Ebola Scare
According to a report by The Punch on Friday, October 23, 2026, President Bola Tinubu and top officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are set to begin activities for his 2027 re-election campaign in Kaduna State on Saturday, as the ruling party intensifies efforts to secure public support ahead of the presidential election.
The choice of Kaduna for the campaign launch highlights the importance of northern Nigeria in determining the outcome of the election. The region reportedly has approximately 56.01 million registered voters out of Nigeria’s total of 103.43 million. The APC hopes to strengthen its influence across the North, particularly in Kaduna, where Tinubu failed to secure victory during the 2023 presidential election.
Preparations for the gathering at Kaduna Flagship Stadium have reportedly included enhanced security measures. Military personnel, police officers, Department of State Services operatives and civil defence officials have been deployed around major roads and strategic locations to ensure the safety of participants and maintain public order.
The APC is also pursuing an extensive grassroots mobilisation strategy, with party leaders working to attract millions of voters nationwide. Dr. Betta Edu, the party’s Women Mobilisation co-chair, is associated with efforts to expand support through community-based campaigns. The party reportedly aims to secure nearly 40 million votes by engaging directly with voters rather than relying exclusively on large political rallies.
Meanwhile, Arewa for Asiwaju, a support group backing Tinubu, is targeting approximately 10,000 participants for the Kaduna gathering. Additional campaign rallies are expected to take place in Calabar, Gombe, Lafia and Ado-Ekiti, with activities scheduled to continue until January 2027.
Kaduna State Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe, who chairs the local organising committee, reportedly confirmed that arrangements were underway to ensure the event proceeded successfully.
However, opposition figures have questioned the APC’s optimism, arguing that Nigeria’s economic challenges could influence voters’ decisions in 2027. Representatives of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, speaking through Paul Ibe, highlighted rising fuel prices, poverty and increasing living costs as factors that could undermine the ruling party’s popularity. They maintained that Nigerians would have an opportunity to express their dissatisfaction through the ballot box.
Separately, Health and Social Welfare Minister Professor Muhammad Pate addressed concerns surrounding a reported imported Ebola case. He indicated that the development did not currently justify suspending political rallies or large gatherings, while health authorities remained prepared to reassess their response if necessary.
The Kaduna rally represents a significant step in the APC’s preparations for 2027, although its electoral success will ultimately depend on public opinion, government performance and the strength of opposition candidates.
