Mark Aba, Abuja
Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has declared that voters across Northern Nigeria will massively support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the January 16, 2027 presidential election, despite the participation of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the race.
Yari made the declaration on Thursday during the APC presidential campaign rally in Ekiti State, where he expressed confidence in Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term, insisting that the President enjoys considerable support across the northern region.
He made the remarks while addressing political leaders and supporters at the rally, challenging the South-West to recognise the level of support Tinubu commands in the North.
According to him, the President’s political relationship with Northern Nigeria has been strengthened by his support for the region and opportunities provided to its people.
“Tinubu is more of us than you in Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, Osun and Lagos. Tinubu supported our children, making our people become number one citizens in this country.
“So, we in the North are ready for Asiwaju in 2027, and we are going to deliver him from A to Z,” Yari declared.
The former Zamfara State governor described the Tinubu administration’s record as a major reason for the APC’s confidence ahead of the election, maintaining that the President had demonstrated commitment to Ekiti through investments in education, road infrastructure, youth development and women’s empowerment.
He recalled that Tinubu had not forgotten the people of Ekiti, pointing to federal interventions in education and infrastructure as evidence of the administration’s engagement with the state.
Yari also expressed optimism that the APC could secure about 90 per cent of the votes in Ekiti, recalling the state’s support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.
He challenged the party’s supporters to improve on that performance, noting that Ekiti had approximately 1.08 million registered voters, with more than 900,000 having collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
“Our request, and by extension that of the President, is that we are looking for 800,000 votes in Ekiti State, representing about 90 per cent,” he said.
Yari also commended former governorship candidates and political leaders from opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Social Democratic Party (SDP), who joined the APC campaign to express solidarity with Governor Biodun Oyebanji and support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He urged Oyebanji and other political stakeholders to intensify grassroots mobilisation, while expressing confidence that the President’s interventions in the state would strengthen the party’s appeal.
On the economy, the APC campaign chief expressed optimism that the Federal Government’s policies would bring down inflation and significantly reduce food prices. He, however, challenged opposition parties to explain what alternative economic measures they would introduce if elected.
Ekiti Rally: Organisation, Peaceful Conduct Take Centre Stage
Beyond the political declarations and campaign promises, the organisation and peaceful conduct of the Ekiti rally also attracted attention.
Unlike political gatherings that have sometimes been characterised by disorder, overcrowding and security concerns, the APC rally in Ado-Ekiti proceeded without reported incidents of violence or major disruption.
The venue was properly demarcated, with designated spaces for party leaders, government officials, traditional institutions and members of the media. Security personnel maintained a visible presence, while traffic management arrangements helped ensure the smooth movement of participants.
The programme followed an orderly sequence, from the arrival of state leaders to addresses by national party officials. Ushers and party marshals also guided supporters, ensuring that proceedings continued without a breakdown of order.
Even when supporters erupted in excitement at the mention of Tinubu and Oyebanji, the enthusiasm did not disrupt the programme.
The peaceful atmosphere was particularly significant against the backdrop of an increasingly charged political environment ahead of the 2027 general election, characterised by intense political rhetoric, social media exchanges and competition among political parties.
Opposition supporters were not reported to have been harassed, while former governorship candidates who joined the APC campaign were received without hostility.
The atmosphere remained largely celebratory rather than confrontational, reinforcing the importance of peaceful political participation and tolerance in the electoral process.
Vice President Kashim Shettima also acknowledged Ekiti’s political culture of tolerance, describing the state as a reference point for elections in Nigeria.
For observers of the country’s democratic process, the conduct of political rallies remains an important consideration alongside crowd size and political mobilisation, particularly as the nation approaches another general election.
The speeches at the rally followed a clear campaign narrative built around appreciation for past electoral support, presentation of the administration’s record, renewed promises and a call for greater backing in 2027.
Vice President Kashim Shettima reminded the people of Ekiti that the state was the first to declare its presidential election results in 2023, giving Tinubu 201,495 votes.
He also recalled that the APC won all 16 local government areas, the three senatorial districts and the six House of Representatives constituencies in the state during the 2023 elections.
Shettima used the figures to reinforce the party’s appeal for stronger support in the forthcoming election, urging Ekiti voters to surpass their previous performance.
He also highlighted federal infrastructure and development projects across the state, including road interventions along the Akure-Ikere-Ekiti and Itawure-Aramoko-Ado-Ekiti corridors, as well as roads linking Aramoko and Ijero to Ifaki, Oye, Ikole and Omuo.
On education, the Vice President listed the establishment of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, student loans under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for students of Ekiti State University and Bamidele Olumilua University, and the establishment of an ICT Experience Centre at Ekiti State University.
He also referenced the approved mining and geosciences institute as part of the Federal Government’s development interventions in the state.
According to Shettima, these projects and initiatives demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to Ekiti and provide a basis for the party’s request for continued support.
He consequently challenged the electorate to give Tinubu between 90 and 95 per cent of the votes in the January 16, 2027 election.
“Give us 90 to 95 per cent on January 16, 2027, and we will complete the work we have begun,” the Vice President told the gathering.
Yilwatda Presents APC Candidates, Highlights Tinubu’s Reforms
National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, reinforced the party’s campaign message by formally presenting its candidates, beginning with President Tinubu and extending to candidates contesting National Assembly and State House of Assembly seats in Ekiti.
Yilwatda portrayed Tinubu as a reform-oriented leader, drawing attention to tax exemptions introduced for small businesses and traders with annual earnings below N100 million, as well as the NELFUND student loan initiative.
He argued that the student loan programme had expanded access to university education, particularly for children from less privileged backgrounds.
The APC chairman maintained that the administration’s economic and social interventions were central to its campaign message and should form part of the electorate’s assessment of the government’s performance.
A Campaign Built Around Performance and Continuity
Overall, the Ekiti rally combined political mobilisation with an account of the Tinubu administration’s activities, while making a fresh appeal for electoral support.
From Yari’s declaration of Northern support to Shettima’s projection of between 90 and 95 per cent votes in Ekiti, the party’s message centred on consolidating its 2023 electoral performance.
The emphasis on federal projects, education initiatives, infrastructure development and economic reforms also featured prominently in the speeches, as APC leaders sought to connect the administration’s record with their demand for another four-year mandate.
With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the rally demonstrated the APC’s intention to mobilise its political structures across the country, strengthen alliances and make the Tinubu administration’s performance a central issue in its re-election campaign.
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