Kaduna APC urges Atiku Abubakar to quit the 2027 presidential race, claiming Tinubu has gained northern support after a campaign rally
The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to abandon his 2027 presidential ambition and support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
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The party said the turnout at Tinubu’s presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday demonstrated that the North had embraced the President ahead of the 2027 general election.
Kaduna APC Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Sani Haruna, made the call during a press briefing on Monday, arguing that Atiku could no longer rely on northern votes to secure the presidency.
“I am categorically calling on him to withdraw from the race. Already, the odds are against him,” Haruna said.
The APC spokesman also urged Atiku to reciprocate what he described as Tinubu’s previous political support for the former vice-president’s presidential ambition.
Haruna’s remarks come amid growing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 election, with the ruling party seeking to consolidate its support base while opposition figures position themselves for the contest.
Haruna maintained that the crowd at Saturday’s rally in Kaduna reflected genuine support for Tinubu’s administration and his bid for another term.
He dismissed allegations that some attendees had been paid to participate or that footage of the gathering had been generated using artificial intelligence.
According to the APC spokesman, many supporters arrived at the venue hours before the event, with some reportedly spending the night there.
He cited the turnout as evidence that the President had gained acceptance in the region and argued that Atiku’s prospects of winning northern votes had diminished.
However, the party’s interpretation of the rally turnout represents its political assessment and does not, on its own, establish the voting intentions of the entire northern electorate.
Haruna also accused Atiku and other opposition figures of using ethnic, religious and regional sentiments to attract voters in northern Nigeria.
He argued that such appeals should not determine the direction of the region’s political support ahead of the next presidential election.
The APC spokesman’s comments reflect the intensifying competition between the ruling party and opposition figures as political discussions surrounding the 2027 race gather momentum.
Atiku, a former vice-president who has contested the presidency several times, remains a prominent figure in Nigerian opposition politics.
The former vice-president’s political future and the strategies opposition parties adopt ahead of 2027 are expected to remain key issues as preparations for the election continue.
Also read: Delta APC Vows Peaceful Campaign Ahead of 2027 Elections
The report did not include a response from Atiku to the Kaduna APC’s call for him to withdraw from the race.
