Tinubu has longstanding record of supporting northerners seeking presidency – APC spokesman

Says Kaduna is ready to host 2027 presidential campaign flag-off

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The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has praised President Bola Tinubu for what it described as his longstanding record of supporting northern politicians seeking the presidency, citing his past political alliances with prominent northern leaders.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Sani Haruna, stated this during a press briefing in Kaduna on Monday, where he expressed the party’s readiness to host the flag-off of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign, scheduled for October 24, 2026.

Haruna described Tinubu as a politician who had consistently supported northern presidential aspirants at different stages of his political career, arguing that his actions demonstrated a commitment to political inclusion and the aspirations of northern Nigerians.

“It is on record that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one of the few Nigerians in living memory who has shown and declared support, both in action and in spirit, for northern Nigeria’s aspiration to lead Nigeria,” he said.

According to Haruna, Tinubu’s support for northern political figures dates back to the early 1990s, when he aligned with the People’s Front led by the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

He said Tinubu supported Yar’Adua’s political movement, which later became associated with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and backed his presidential ambition during the party’s primary election in 1992.

Haruna also cited Tinubu’s political support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in 2007 and former presidential candidate Nuhu Ribadu in 2011, claiming that Tinubu provided political platforms for both northern politicians to pursue their presidential ambitions.

The APC spokesman further credited Tinubu】 and the political coalition that produced the APC with supporting former President Muhammadu Buhari’s successful presidential bid in 2015, following his unsuccessful attempts in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

“This is the only individual in the history of Nigeria that has supported the aspiration of northerners at different times to be the president of Nigeria,” Haruna said.

He added that Tinubu’s political conduct during Buhari’s eight-year administration further demonstrated his commitment to the former president.

According to him, Tinubu did not publicly disparage Buhari’s leadership, despite criticisms of the administration by some northern Nigerians.

“A lot of northerners during those eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari had cause to say negative things about the president then, but Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never for once castigated or condemned the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

Haruna consequently called on northern Nigerians to reciprocate what he described as Tinubu’s political support by backing his re-election bid in 2027.

“Going by the antecedents of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I am bold to say that it is we, the northerners, that owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu our support,” he added.

The APC spokesman also described the decision to select Kaduna as the venue for Tinubu’s presidential campaign flag-off as a demonstration of the President’s commitment to northern Nigeria.

He noted that Kaduna’s historical significance as the former capital of the Northern Region, alongside its ethnic and religious diversity, made it an appropriate location for the event.

“There is no better solidarity or show of love for northern Nigeria than the choice of Kaduna as the city to host the flag-off of the presidential campaign,” Haruna said.

He described Kaduna as the “heartbeat of northern Nigeria,” arguing that the city’s historical and cultural significance extended beyond the state to the wider northern region.

“Anybody that chooses Kaduna for whatever action he wants to execute is not showing solidarity or love to the city of Kaduna alone; rather, he is showing that love to the whole of northern Nigeria,” he said.

Haruna added that Kaduna’s diverse population, comprising people from different geopolitical zones, ethnic groups and religious backgrounds, made the state a miniature representation of Nigeria.

He expressed gratitude to Tinubu for selecting Kaduna to host the campaign event, saying the decision would demonstrate the importance of the region to the President’s political plans.

Haruna assured the President and the APC leadership that Kaduna State was prepared to host the campaign flag-off and mobilise a large number of supporters for the event.

He said the state, under Governor Uba Sani, was committed to delivering the two million votes reportedly promised to Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“The show that our able governor has promised Mr President that Kaduna State is going to produce two million votes for the President is not just a mere saying; it is a fact,” he said.

The APC spokesman attributed the party’s claimed political strength in the state to what he described as Governor Sani’s inclusive leadership style and efforts to bring different communities into the party.

He claimed that the APC currently controlled all elective positions across Kaduna’s 23 local government areas, 255 wards, 16 federal constituencies and three senatorial districts.

“Today, in Kaduna State, there is no elective position that is not manned by an APC person,” Haruna said.

He further maintained that the party had made significant inroads into areas that previously supported opposition parties, including Southern Kaduna.

According to him, the governor’s approach to governance had encouraged more people to embrace the APC, regardless of their religious, ethnic or cultural backgrounds.

“Now, we have a governor in the person of Senator Uba Sani who has shown regard and respect to every strata of opinion in Kaduna State,” he said.

“He has received everybody and created a large pool that everybody is welcome, irrespective of religion, irrespective of tribe, or any other social, economic or cultural difference.”

The party also attributed its claimed political gains in Kaduna to Governor Sani’s leadership, contrasting his administration with that of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Haruna argued that the 2023 general elections reflected voters’ dissatisfaction with the previous administration’s policies and governing style.

He accused the former administration of demolishing homes and markets, dismissing thousands of workers and mishandling religious and ethnic differences in the state.

“The election in Kaduna State in 2023 was a referendum on the governing style of the former governor of Kaduna State,” he said.

Haruna maintained that the current administration had adopted a more inclusive approach, allowing people from different backgrounds to participate in the state’s political and developmental processes.

He said the approach had helped the APC expand its support base and strengthen its presence in communities that previously favoured opposition parties.

During the question-and-answer session, a journalist challenged the party’s assertion that there was no opposition in Kaduna State, recalling the opposition’s performance in the 2023 general elections.

The journalist noted that opposition parties had won three senatorial seats and 12 House of Representatives seats in the state, despite the APC controlling power at both the federal and state levels at the time.

The question sought to establish whether the ruling party’s claim of having no opposition could lead to complacency, given the opposition’s gains in the previous election.

In response, Haruna argued that the political situation had changed under Governor Sani, insisting that the party’s current dominance across the state was unprecedented.

“I want to tell you, there has never been a time in the history of Kaduna State where all parts of Kaduna State, all the 255 wards, all the 23 local government areas, all the 16 federal constituencies and three senatorial districts are controlled by one party until this time,” he said.

He maintained that the party’s assertion was based on its claimed control of elective positions rather than political rhetoric.

“If we say there is no opposition, it is not rhetoric; it is not a mere saying. It is a fact that is on the ground,” Haruna added.

However, the opposition’s performance in the 2023 elections demonstrated that opposition parties had previously secured substantial representation in the state, despite the APC’s control of the federal and state governments at the time.

As part of its preparations, the Kaduna APC announced the opening of a dedicated media centre to provide information about the presidential campaign flag-off.

Haruna said the centre would serve as the main source of information for journalists covering the preparations and activities surrounding the event.

“All information relating to the flag-off of this campaign are going to be sourced and given from this centre,” he said.

He assured members of the press that the party would provide timely and accurate updates on its preparations.

Haruna reiterated that Kaduna was ready to receive Tinubu, APC leaders and supporters from across the country, promising a large turnout for the event.

“We are ready, we are prepared, and our arms are open to welcome our guests on the 24th of October,” he said.

He added that the party intended to use the campaign flag-off to demonstrate its organisational strength and support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.