Bola Tinubu Launches 2027 Re-election Campaign in Kaduna

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally launched his All Progressives Congress (APC) re-election campaign on October 24, 2026, at a massive rally in Kaduna. Addressing thousands of supporters, Tinubu defended his removal of fuel subsidies and naira devaluation as necessary steps to end corruption and smuggling. He attributed Nigeria's current hunger and poverty to his predecessors and political rivals, whom he characterized as failures offering only hatred.

Vice President Kashim Shettima and Governor Uba Sani joined the launch, praising the administration's infrastructure projects, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline. APC leaders, including Abdulaziz Yari, asserted that Northern Nigeria is fully behind the president, with Yari citing a strengthening naira as a key achievement.

Opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) condemned the president's remarks as political amnesia, arguing that the APC has governed for over 11 years and must take responsibility for the economic crisis. Through spokesperson Phrank Shaibu, Abubakar labeled a recently announced 90-day cost-of-living relief plan as a scam and election bait, noting that the plan is timed to expire just after the January 16, 2027, election. The ADC further criticized the administration for neglecting civilian casualties from military drone strikes in Kaduna while prioritizing a campaign launch in the state.