President Tinubu is set to kick off his second tenure campaign amid widespread hunger and insecurity across Nigeria.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that President Bola Tinubu is set to kick off his 2027 re-election campaign in Kaduna on October 24, 2026, amid persistent concerns over hunger, rising living costs and insecurity across Nigeria.
The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, disclosed this on Friday after briefing the President at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on preparations for the forthcoming campaign.
Yari said the meeting focused on the council’s readiness, the campaign timetable and the President’s planned visits to states ahead of the January 2027 presidential election.
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He announced that the campaign council’s inaugural meeting would hold on October 14 at the State House Banquet Hall, while the presidential campaign would officially begin in Kaduna 10 days later.
“By God’s grace, his team, I, and Mr President himself, we have agreed on how it’s going to be done,” Yari said.
He added, “By God’s grace, on the 24th of October, we’re going to do our flag-off campaign in Kaduna.”
According to the APC campaign chief, the President has approved the proposed itinerary, with Port Harcourt in Rivers State and Maiduguri in Borno State expected to follow Kaduna.
Yari said the full campaign timetable would be made public after the council’s inauguration.
The planned campaign comes against the backdrop of continuing economic hardship. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that nearly 35 million Nigerians could face acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season, driven by conflict, climate shocks and disruptions to agricultural production.
Poverty also remains widespread. The World Bank estimates that more than 60 per cent of Nigerians lived below the national poverty line in 2025, with poorer households particularly vulnerable to rising food prices. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that Nigeria’s annual food inflation reached 20.3 per cent in July 2026, highlighting continued pressure on household budgets.
Insecurity remains another major challenge facing the country. Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnappings in the North-West, and other forms of armed violence. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project (ACLED) reported in September that the country’s kidnapping crisis had continued beyond its 2025 peak.
Yari expresses confidence in Tinubu’s re-election
Despite the challenges, Yari expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure another term, arguing that the President had built a strong political base across the North and South.
He dismissed the prospect of opposition candidates defeating the President, maintaining that winning the presidency requires substantial support across both regions.
Yari also defended the administration’s performance, saying the economy was improving and that the government had made progress since taking office.
He said, “He has turned around the situation that he met on ground, and the economy is moving.”
The campaign director added that the APC intended to focus on the administration’s achievements rather than make promises to voters.
“We are not promising. We are doing it, and we are going to continue,” he said.
APC outlines campaign leadership
Tinubu appointed Yari as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council on August 22, 2026, with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma named secretary.
The President chairs the council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda serve as vice chairmen.
Yari said the council would release its full campaign itinerary following its inauguration on October 14.
2027 presidential election timetable.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027.
Under the timetable cited in the report, campaigns are scheduled to run from August 19, 2026, until January 15, 2027.
Among the opposition contenders mentioned are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who is contesting under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The coming campaign is expected to place the administration’s economic record, food affordability, security and living standards at the centre of political debate as parties seek support ahead of the election.
