The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to abandon his 2027 presidential ambition and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, arguing that political support in the North is shifting in favour of the incumbent.
The party’s Publicity Secretary in Kaduna State, Muhammad Sani Haruna, made the appeal while speaking with journalists in Kaduna on Monday, following Tinubu’s campaign rally in the state.
Haruna said the turnout at the rally demonstrated growing acceptance of Tinubu in the North, expressing confidence that Kaduna State could exceed the two million votes projected by Governor Uba Sani for the president in the 2027 election.
He specifically appealed to Atiku to reconsider his ambition and work with Tinubu, insisting that the political atmosphere had become favourable to the president.
“I want specifically to call on our former Vice President, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, to sheathe his sword and join forces with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because the pendulum has swung in favour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Haruna said.
The APC spokesman also invoked the political relationship between Tinubu and Atiku, claiming that Tinubu helped the former vice-president secure a platform to contest the presidency in 2011.
According to Haruna, Atiku should reciprocate the gesture, arguing that political relationships should be built on mutual support.
He further claimed that more than one million people turned out to welcome Tinubu from the airport to the rally venue, describing the event as evidence of the president’s popularity in the state.
Haruna praised Kaduna for hosting the rally, describing the state as a symbol of Nigeria’s diversity because of its varied ethnic and religious communities. He also commended Governor Uba Sani for organising the event and thanked Tinubu for selecting Kaduna as the venue for the campaign rally.
He maintained that the rally concluded without injuries, harassment or other major incidents.
Turning to the opposition, Haruna criticised Atiku’s promise to restore petrol subsidy, describing the proposal as an indication of desperation. He also questioned the former vice-president’s continued pursuit of the presidency.
The Kaduna APC spokesman extended his criticism to opposition politicians associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing them of failing to adequately address economic hardship and educational challenges in Northern Nigeria while in public office.
He further alleged that some opposition politicians were relying on religious and ethnic sentiments to secure electoral support.
“The North is wise. The North cannot be taken for a ride again,” Haruna said.
The remarks underscore the APC’s efforts to consolidate support for Tinubu in Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election, while putting pressure on opposition figures, particularly Atiku, to reconsider their political strategies.
However, Haruna’s claims about the rally turnout and the level of Northern support for Tinubu were not independently established in the statements provided.
