President Bola Tinubu on Saturday arrived in Kaduna State for the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 presidential campaign.
Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, Nana Shettima, also arrived in the state for the event holding at the Kaduna Township Stadium.
The President and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, were received at the airport by Shettima, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and other party leaders.
The former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, disclosed in a post on X that the Director-General of the campaign and the APC National Chairman were among those who received Tinubu after his presidential aircraft landed in Kaduna.
The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, also confirmed the President’s arrival, saying Tinubu and the First Lady had touched down in Kaduna for the campaign flag-off.
Shettima’s arrival was announced in a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, who said party leaders, governors, elected officials, political stakeholders and supporters were converging on the Kaduna Township Stadium for the event.
According to Nkwocha, the campaign flag-off would provide an opportunity for the APC to present its Renewed Hope 2.0 agenda and highlight the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
“The stage is set. Kaduna is ready. The 2027 campaign begins!” the statement read.
Nkwocha added, “Asiwaju is here. Northwest for the takeaway!”
In a separate statement, the presidential spokesman said Tinubu had arrived for the official flag-off of the APC Tinubu-Shettima 2027 presidential campaign.
He said the President would join Shettima, governors, members of the APC National Working Committee, National Assembly members and other political stakeholders for the formal commencement of the party’s nationwide campaign.
The statement added that Tinubu would use the occasion to outline the next phase of his Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on economic reforms, infrastructure development, agricultural transformation, security initiatives and plans to expand opportunities for Nigerians.
“Relax…Tinubu is working. Relax the Jagaban is here!” Nkwocha wrote.
Meanwhile, security operatives had sealed off key locations across Kaduna metropolis ahead of the President’s arrival.
Personnel of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service and the Kaduna State Vigilance Service were deployed across the city.
The operatives were stationed at major roundabouts and roads leading to the campaign venue.
Muhammadu Buhari Way, formerly known as WAFF Road, was blocked by security personnel ahead of the President’s passage.
The Ahmadu Bello Stadium roundabout was also manned by heavily armed soldiers, police officers and plain-clothes operatives.
Politics Nigeria reports that the security restrictions disrupted vehicular movement in parts of the metropolis, causing a gridlock that stretched from Junction Road to Ahmadu Bello Way. Motorists and commuters were stranded as movement was restricted along some major routes.
The campaign flag-off comes as the APC begins its mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election, with party leaders and support groups expected to rally behind Tinubu’s bid for a second term.