President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally launched the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign for the 2027 general election in Kaduna, declaring his intention to seek a second term and urging supporters to mobilise votes for the party.

Addressing party leaders, governors, federal lawmakers and supporters at the campaign flag-off on Saturday, Tinubu expressed appreciation to Nigerians for electing him in 2023, saying he was seeking another mandate to consolidate his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“I have come again to thank you and seek your mandate for a second term to fulfil our promise of prosperity, continuity, progress and development,” the President said.

Tinubu defended his administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, describing the policy as necessary to address corruption and reposition the Nigerian economy.

“Fuel subsidy is in our past. No more corruption, no more falsification of invoices, no more lies and no more smuggling. We are ushering in a new era,” he declared.

The President also called on eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and support APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

Shettima Highlights Federal Projects in Northern Nigeria

Vice President Kashim Shettima, in his remarks, highlighted what he described as the administration’s achievements in education, infrastructure and energy, citing several projects across Northern Nigeria.

Among the projects he mentioned were the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline, Kano-Maradi Railway, Lagos-Kano Rail Corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road reconstruction and Sokoto-Badagry Highway.

Shettima also recalled Tinubu’s political engagements and support for northern leaders over the years, including his backing for former President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections.

He presented the administration’s policies and infrastructure investments as evidence of its commitment to national development and regional inclusion.

APC Campaign Council Promises Issue-Based Campaign

The Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, said the party would focus on its record in government as it seeks a fresh mandate from Nigerians.

Yari cited investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and human capital development, while acknowledging the difficult economic conditions the administration inherited.

He added that the campaign council had stepped up consultations with traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders, as the party prepares for the nationwide campaign.

Uba Sani Welcomes Campaign to Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani described Kaduna as the “political and spiritual capital of Northern Nigeria” and thanked the President for selecting the state to host the campaign flag-off.

The governor highlighted federal projects in Kaduna State, including the reconstruction of the 123-kilometre Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road, the Kaduna Metropolitan Red Line Rail Project, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway and initiatives supported by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Sani also said security had improved along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari corridor, making travel safer than in previous years.

He commended federal investments in agriculture and infrastructure across Northern Nigeria and called on residents to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The campaign flag-off brought together APC governors, senior party officials, lawmakers and supporters from across Northern Nigeria, signalling the party’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general election.

The APC is expected to use its campaign to promote the administration’s policy record, defend its economic reforms and seek public support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of politicising Nigeria’s Ebola emergency, describing his comments on the outbreak as disrespectful to President Bola Tinubu and lacking evidence.

In a press release issued in Abuja on Thursday, the council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, criticised Atiku over a statement linking Tinubu’s name to Ebola and questioning the utilisation of the N10 billion approved for the emergency response.

Alake said such remarks risked turning a serious public health concern into an avenue for political ridicule, urging the opposition to exercise restraint and avoid spreading speculation.

He explained that Ebola symptoms could take between two and 21 days to appear after exposure, adding that infected persons generally cannot transmit the virus before developing symptoms. He said this explained why the infected Nigerian was not detected immediately upon arrival at the Abuja airport.

On the N10 billion emergency fund, Alake claimed that the approved money remained untouched, while the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other surveillance agencies had deployed other available resources to contain the threat.

He commended the agencies for identifying the index case and initiating contact tracing for 44 persons who had contact with the patient.

The APC council also faulted Atiku’s allegation that the ministerial briefing was intended to discourage attendance at campaign rallies or voting, insisting that the claim was speculative and unsupported by verifiable evidence.

Alake urged Atiku and other opposition figures to stop politicising public health matters and instead support health authorities by promoting responsible communication, discouraging rumours and complying with preventive measures announced by the relevant agencies.

He stressed that protecting Nigerians from the deadly disease should take precedence over political interests.

The Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Ogun State has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027 and declared support for Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, in his bid to become the next governor of Ogun State.

The group also announced plans to confer the chieftaincy title of **“Dike Eji Eje Mba”** on Senator Adeola at an installation ceremony scheduled for the end of October in Abeokuta.

The President of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Ogun State, Eze Stephen Okorie, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the senator over the weekend, where he led a five-man delegation.

Okorie said the group’s endorsement was based on Adeola’s development projects in Ogun State, particularly road construction and market infrastructure aimed at promoting trade and commerce.

He noted that the Igbo community also supported Adeola’s governorship ambition to address what he described as the longstanding marginalisation of Ogun West Senatorial District, which has yet to produce a governor since the state’s creation.

The Ohanaeze leader disclosed that he had personally erected five campaign billboards for Tinubu and Adeola across the state and produced campaign materials in support of the senator and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He added that the forthcoming chieftaincy installation would provide an opportunity for the group to formally declare its support for Adeola and other APC candidates in Ogun State.

Responding, Adeola recalled the support he received from the Igbo community during his political career in Lagos, where he was honoured with the title **“Dike Di Ora Nma”** by the Eze Ndi Igbo in the state.

The senator said his political philosophy was based on inclusion and good governance, irrespective of ethnicity or religion.

“My brand of politics is politics of inclusion and delivery of good governance for all the people. When roads, schools, hospitals and other infrastructures are constructed, it is for the good of all,” he said.

He assured residents that all law-abiding Nigerians were welcome to do business and prosper in Ogun State.

Those present during the visit included the APC deputy governorship candidate in Ogun State, Alhaja Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa Balogun; the Minister of State for Health and Social Services, Dr. Kunle Salako; the Ogun State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele; Hon. Laolu Olabimtan; and other APC candidates.