Kebbi Governor Idris launches APC 2027 Campaign Council and announces President Tinubu's upcoming visit

Kebbi State Governor Dr Nasir Idris opened the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Campaign Council on Sunday, 8 November 2026, at the Presidential Lodge in Birnin Kebbi. The event marked the formal start of the party’s mobilisation efforts for the forthcoming general elections. Idris appointed former Kebbi governor and Nigeria’s ambassador to Turkey, Saidu Usman Nasamu Dakingari, as chairman of the council and highlighted Kebbi as an APC stronghold.

During the inauguration, Idris also announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would travel to Kebbi to campaign for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections. He urged council members to intensify grassroots mobilisation, maintain unity, and encourage eligible voters to obtain permanent voter cards. The ceremony was attended by APC state chairman Alhaji Abubakar Kana‑Zuru, national and state assembly members, former office‑holders and other party stakeholders.

Background

The APC has long considered Kebbi a reliable base, having secured successive victories in previous elections. Governor Idris, who took office in 2023, has consistently aligned the state’s political agenda with the national party leadership. The appointment of Dakingari, a former governor (2015‑2023) and current ambassador to Turkey, reflects the party’s strategy of leveraging experienced figures to steer campaign operations. State chairman Kana‑Zuru, who praised Idris’s support, indicated that the council would coordinate mobilisation from the grassroots to the state level, echoing similar structures used by the APC in other northern states.

President Tinubu, re‑elected in 2023, has been touring key APC territories to consolidate support for the party’s 2027 slate. His planned visit to Kebbi follows a series of campaign trips to other strongholds, aiming to rally party members and showcase the administration’s achievements ahead of the next general election.

Why it matters

The inauguration signals a concerted effort by the APC to secure its dominance in Kebbi, a state that contributes significantly to the party’s national vote tally. Mobilising voters, especially by encouraging registration for permanent voter cards, is crucial in a tightly contested electoral environment. The involvement of high‑profile figures such as Dakingari and the scheduled visit by President Tinubu are intended to boost morale among party activists and persuade undecided voters.

Stakeholders across the state—including local government officials, traditional leaders and civil society groups—are expected to respond to the intensified campaign activities. The APC’s emphasis on unity and grassroots engagement aims to pre‑empt internal fractures that have affected other parties in past elections.

What happens next

According to the statements made at the inauguration, the campaign council will begin coordinated mobilisation efforts immediately, focusing on voter education and outreach. President Tinubu’s visit is slated for a date to be confirmed by the APC national secretariat, and will likely involve rallies and meetings with local leaders. The APC state chairman has called on eligible voters to secure permanent voter cards ahead of the 2027 elections, suggesting a push for higher voter registration in the coming months. The council’s activities will continue through the pre‑election period, culminating in the general elections scheduled for early 2027.