Kaduna leaders pledge northern votes for Tinubu in 2027 election

Northern leaders promise votes for Tinubu in 2027

During the launch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna on 24 October 2026, Governor Uba Sani and campaign director-general Abdulaziz Yari stated that residents of the north would cast a decisive ballot for President Bola Tinubu in the January 2027 vote. The statement was made in front of party supporters and media, with Sani stressing the federal government’s interventions in infrastructure, security, education and health in the North.

Sani pointed to the rebuilding of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway and the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road, as well as the re-opening of schools and primary health centers that had previously shut down because of insecurity. He also mentioned the Metropolitan Red Line project, for which $865 million had been approved and a contractor mobilised.

The pledge was echoed by Vice‑President Kashim Shettima, who canvassed support for Tinubu’s re‑election during the same event. Shettima cited federal universities, vocational institutes and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) as evidence of the administration’s commitment to the North.

Background

The APC flag‑off in Kaduna was part of the party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election. Governor Sani, who has been in office since 2023, has repeatedly praised President Tinubu for delivering on long‑standing promises in the North. He pointed to the 123‑kilometre Kaduna‑Birnin Gwari road, abandoned for more than four decades, which is now under reconstruction after federal funding was released.

Security improvements along the corridor were also noted, with Sani claiming that travel between Kaduna and Birnin Gwari can now be done without police escort. He further mentioned that more than 300 schools and 150 primary health centres that had closed in 2023 due to insecurity had reopened.

The APC campaign launch also saw Sani warn supporters about the opposition’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) in campaigning, urging vigilance and calling on the “northern candidate” to prove a track record.

Why it matters

The statements from Kaduna’s leadership carry weight in the North‑West zone, a key electoral bloc for the APC. By publicly affirming that northern voters will back Tinubu, the governor and party officials are signalling strong regional support for the incumbent. The pledge also underscores the importance of federal projects in the North, such as the Metropolitan Red Line, the Abuja‑Kaduna‑Kano expressway and the Kaduna‑Birnin Gwari road, which have been framed as evidence of the administration’s developmental agenda.

The comments come at a time when the opposition is reportedly upgrading its campaign tactics from social media to AI, raising concerns among APC supporters about misinformation and targeted political messaging. The governor’s remarks aimed to counter this by emphasising the tangible benefits delivered to the North and the need for voters to assess candidates on track records rather than regional identity.

What happens next

The APC campaign will continue to mobilise supporters across the North ahead of the 16 January 2027 presidential election. No specific dates or further actions were announced beyond the pledge of support. The opposition’s use of AI in campaigning remains a point of contention, but no official response from the opposition parties was reported in the sources.

The statements from Kaduna’s leaders are expected to influence voter sentiment in the North‑West zone, a region that has historically been a stronghold for the APC. The outcome of the 2027 election will depend on how effectively the party can translate this regional backing into votes at the polls.