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President Bola Tinubu has approved a timetable for state visits as the All Progressives Congress prepares for the 2027 presidential election.
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The APC Presidential Campaign Council will hold its inaugural meeting on October 14 at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
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The ruling party has scheduled its campaign flag-off for October 24 in Kaduna, with Port Harcourt and Maiduguri listed as subsequent mobilisation destinations.
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Campaign council Director-General Abdulaziz Yari has dismissed the chances of opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi defeating Tinubu, citing the President’s claimed support across northern and southern Nigeria.
October 10, (THEWILL) – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun preparations to mobilise nationwide support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, with the party fixing October 24 for its presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna.
Senator Abdulaziz Yari, the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, disclosed the plans after meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Yari said the President had approved a timetable for state visits ahead of the 2027 general election, as the ruling party prepares to take its campaign message to voters across the country.
He announced that the campaign council would hold its inaugural meeting on October 14 at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
According to him, the campaign flag-off would take place in Kaduna on October 24, after which the mobilisation exercise would move to Port Harcourt and Maiduguri.
Yari said the full itinerary would be released after the inauguration of the campaign council.
The planned activities are expected to provide the framework for the APC’s nationwide mobilisation effort as it seeks to secure another four-year term for Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023.
The campaign is expected to focus on the administration’s policies and achievements, with the ruling party seeking to convince Nigerians that Tinubu deserves another term despite concerns over economic hardship and the cost of living.
Yari Dismisses Opposition Challenge
Yari also expressed confidence in Tinubu’s political standing, dismissing the prospect of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi defeating the President in the 2027 election.
He argued that neither opposition figure commands the level of support across northern and southern Nigeria required to win the presidency.
Yari claimed that Tinubu enjoys strong backing in more than 10 states in each of the two regions, expressing confidence that the APC would be able to mobilise sufficient support across the country.
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APC To Campaign On Tinubu’s Record
Yari said the APC would campaign on the record of Tinubu’s administration, arguing that the President had improved the economic situation he inherited when he took office.
He maintained that the administration’s achievements would provide the ruling party with material to present to Nigerians as it seeks a fresh mandate.
The economic record is expected to be a major issue in the campaign, particularly as Nigerians continue to grapple with the effects of rising living costs and the impact of government reforms.
Tinubu’s administration has introduced significant economic policy changes, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and reforms to the foreign exchange system. The government has defended the measures as necessary to stabilise public finances and improve the economy over time, while critics have raised concerns about their immediate effects on households and businesses.
The APC will therefore face the task of explaining the benefits of its policies to voters while addressing concerns about inflation, purchasing power, employment and living standards.
Background
Tinubu won the February 25, 2023 presidential election with 8,794,726 votes, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 6,984,520 votes, and Peter Obi, then the Labour Party candidate, who polled 6,101,533 votes. The Supreme Court upheld Tinubu’s election in October 2023 after legal challenges by opposition candidates.
Since taking office on May 29, 2023, Tinubu has pursued economic reforms aimed at reducing government expenditure on subsidies, improving revenue and restructuring the foreign exchange market. The reforms have generated considerable political debate, particularly over their impact on the cost of living and the pace at which their expected benefits may reach ordinary Nigerians.
As the 2027 election approaches, the APC is preparing to defend its record and consolidate its political support, while opposition figures and parties are seeking to challenge the ruling party’s hold on the presidency.
The campaign council’s inaugural meeting on October 14 and the scheduled flag-off in Kaduna on October 24 are expected to mark key steps in the APC’s preparations. Further details of the proposed state visits and mobilisation programme are expected after the council’s inauguration.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
