APC Disgraced as Crowd Hails Atiku Instead of Tinubu at Zamfara Rally

The All Progressives Congress (APC) suffered an embarrassment in Zamfara State on Wednesday after a section of the crowd at a rally organised to celebrate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 campaign team was heard chanting “Sai Atiku” instead of expressing support for the President.

The incident was captured in one of several videos from the event that have circulated widely online.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the crowd chanted the name of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The development came during a solidarity walk staged by the Zamfara State chapter of the APC in Gusau, the state capital, to appreciate Tinubu over his appointment of former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, as Director-General of the President’s Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections.

The solidarity walk was organised by the A.A. Yari Political Organisation in collaboration with the Shehu Movement Organisation and the Yari 774 Initiative for Asiwaju 2027.

The procession began at the Trade Fair Complex and ended at the Zamfara State Government House, attracting APC stakeholders, party loyalists and supporters of the President.

The organisers had presented the event as a show of solidarity with Tinubu and an opportunity to celebrate Yari’s appointment, which they described as a strategic decision capable of strengthening the APC ahead of the 2027 election.

They also pledged to mobilise massive support for Tinubu’s re-election and expressed confidence that Yari’s appointment would help the party achieve victory.

Speaking during the event, Zamfara APC Chairman, Alhaji Kabiru Moyi Birnin Magaji, said the President should expect massive votes from the people of the state in 2027.

Moyi also presented a letter of appreciation to Deputy Governor Mani Malam Mumini on behalf of President Tinubu.

The deputy governor expressed satisfaction with the turnout and said the crowd demonstrated the level of support for the President and the state government.

He further declared that Tinubu and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal would receive massive support for their respective re-election bids in the 2027 general elections.

Yari’s appointment as Director-General of the presidential campaign council was announced in August by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Under the campaign structure, Tinubu will serve as chairman, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, will serve as vice chairmen.

Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and a prominent APC figure, will coordinate the campaign as Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary.

Several other senior APC figures have also been assigned roles in the campaign council, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and James Abiodun Faleke.

The campaign council also includes officials responsible for mobilisation, election planning, legal affairs, media and strategic communications as the ruling party prepares for the 2027 contest.

Tinubu charged members to work towards securing victory for the APC.

“We have delivered on our campaign promises and set our country on a path of economic progress. We are definitely out of the dark tunnel and are now at the cusp of reaping the benefits of a prosperous economy that will benefit all Nigerians,” the President said.

He also urged the campaign team to present the administration’s achievements to Nigerians as the election approaches.

“As we march into the campaign season, we have many achievements to trumpet—let us confidently showcase our record and inspire hope in every corner of our nation,” Tinubu said.

The President further charged the campaign council to defeat opposition forces seeking to take power from the APC.

“Let us soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards,” he added.