APC leaders urged to intensify mobilisation for Tinubu, Alia ahead of 2027 elections

During the launch of the Tinubu/Alia Campaign Council at IBB Square in Makurdi, Senator Barnabas Gemade, who heads the Benue State APC Campaign Advisory Council for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia, called on party officials and campaign coordinators to intensify their mobilization efforts. Addressing the gathering on 5 November 2026, Gemade emphasized that the newly formed campaign team must approach the 2027 general elections with intense focus, commitment, and a steadfast determination to succeed. He warned against complacency, noting that some individuals and groups were attempting to undermine the party’s prospects without a clear political identity.

Gemade reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to re‑electing President Tinubu, Governor Alia, Deputy Governor Sam Ode and any other candidates emerging from duly conducted party primaries. He argued that the party’s defined political direction set it apart from rivals who, in his view, shift between platforms without consistent ideology. The senator urged campaign officials to translate their positions into effective grassroots mobilisation, describing the task ahead as “enormous.”

On the same day, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a former Zamfara State governor and the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC), predicted at a rally in Ado-Ekiti that President Tinubu would receive a higher number of votes from the northern region than from the entire South-West zone in the 2027 presidential race. Yari attributed this expected support to Tinubu’s perceived loyalty to northern leaders and his administration’s achievements over the past three years, citing reductions in inflation and food prices as evidence of effective governance.

Background

The APC entered the 2027 election cycle with incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seeking a second term and Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State aiming for re‑election. The party’s internal structures, including state‑level campaign advisory councils, were formalised in November 2026 to coordinate nationwide mobilisation. Gemade’s call came during the inaugural ceremony of the Tinubu/Alia Campaign Council, a body tasked with overseeing campaign activities across Benue State.

Senator Abdulaziz Yari, who previously served as governor of Zamfara State (2019‑2023) and now leads the APC‑PCC, has been a prominent voice in the party’s national strategy. His statements in Ado‑Ekiti highlighted the APC’s narrative that Tinubu’s policies have benefitted northern Nigerians, particularly in reducing staple food prices. Yari also criticised opposition parties, arguing they lack substantive policy alternatives and have failed to address inflationary pressures that previously drove food prices to N110,000 for a 50 kg bag of rice, now reportedly reduced to N60,000.

Why it matters

The mobilisation drive outlined by Gemade targets the APC’s grassroots network, a critical factor in Nigeria’s election dynamics where local party structures often determine voter turnout. Effective coordination could influence the re‑election prospects of both Tinubu and Alia, as well as other APC candidates emerging from party primaries. Yari’s confidence in northern support underscores the party’s reliance on regional voting blocs; if his projection holds, the North could provide a decisive margin for Tinubu, potentially offsetting any losses in the South‑West.

Both leaders framed the campaign narrative around economic achievements, such as reduced inflation and lower food prices, positioning the incumbent administration as a driver of tangible improvements. This messaging aims to consolidate support among voters who experienced price relief, while simultaneously delegitimising opposition platforms that, according to Yari, offer no distinct policy differences.

What happens next

The Tinubu/Alia Campaign Council, now officially inaugurated, is expected to roll out a series of mobilisation activities across Benue State and beyond, though specific timelines were not disclosed. Senator Yari’s statements suggest that the APC will continue to emphasise northern outreach in the lead‑up to the 2027 elections, with further rallies and campaign events likely scheduled in key northern states. The party’s internal primaries, slated for later in 2026, will determine the full slate of APC candidates who will benefit from the intensified mobilisation effort.