Politics
2027: APC Says Tinubu’s Re-Election Non-Negotiable, Pledges Violence-Free Campaigns
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reaffirmed the declaration of the Directorate of Security and Intelligence of its Presidential Campaign Council that President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 is “non-negotiable”, even as the party pledged peaceful and safe campaigns.
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, made the reaffirmation on Sunday evening in Abuja at the inauguration of national and sub-national structures of the Directorate of Security and Intelligence of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
Deputy National Secretary of the party, Prof. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana SAN, who represented Yilwatda, said the directorate had moved faster than any other arm of the council.
He said politicians had much to learn from the military. “We have a lot to learn from the military – the discipline, the alacrity, the organisation… Even as we organise our campaigns, regimentation is very important.
“One of my favourite statements from the military is that the unity of this country is non-negotiable, and now today I heard some of our generals saying that victory in this election is non-negotiable,” he said.
He also gave the directorate its marching orders. “Before we leave, you must clear the path; you must confirm to us that the venue is safe. When we are there, you must ensure that we are safe and protected. When we leave, you must ensure that the paths and roads are secure. Your committee is the one that will be there ahead of us and remain there even after we leave,” he said.
Recalling the state of the country when the APC took over, Kana said, “Our party came in 2015 and met the country in total disarray.”
The Minister of Defence and First Secretary of the directorate, General Christopher Musa, said Tinubu’s return was not in doubt and that the task now was to secure the ground for it.
“The return of Mr President is not an issue that we should even start worrying about, because God’s willing, he is coming back. The task before us now is to provide the enabling environment for it to happen. The issue of security is paramount and is key to our success.
“We must do everything possible to make sure that Nigeria is safe and secure. And our campaigns are peaceful and safe, because I think that is the most critical aspect of what we do,” he said.
The Director of Intelligence and Security of the Council, Major General Sarkin Yaki Bello (retd), who inaugurated the structures, said its members must work within the law.
“Our duty is to protect Mr President and the people, and not to threaten them, to preserve order, not to create fear, and to support a peaceful democratic process,” he said.
He told members what the stakes were. “What is at stake, gentlemen, is the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office,” Sarkin Yaki said.
The Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa (retd), said the directorate’s job was to keep the process orderly.
“Without security, what you have is chaos, and chaos is not what we need at this time. And our job is to make the process safe and secure,” he said.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, leadership under former Senate President David Mark has filed an appeal against the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 5, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1619/2025, involving Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and the ADC.
In a statement on Friday, the embattled opposition party disclosed that it had also filed an application for a stay of execution pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
“INEC was formally notified of these steps on November 6 and urged to refrain from taking further action on the subject matter while the appeal is pending.
“The application for a stay of execution has not yet been determined. INEC must, therefore, exercise restraint. It must not act as though the appeal and stay application do not exist or take any step that could pre-empt the Court of Appeal and undermine the proper resolution of the matter. The commission must respect the judicial process and allow the appellate court to hear the case.
“The ADC is exercising its lawful right to appeal. The judgement is now being challenged before a higher court, and the legal process must be allowed to run its course. We expect INEC to uphold the law and take full account of the pending proceedings before making any consequential decisions.
“To our members, supporters and Nigerians who believe in democracy: remain calm, steadfast and confident. This is not the end of the road. The ADC is taking every lawful step to defend its rights, and we will not be intimidated or distracted from that responsibility. Our commitment to Nigerians and their right to choose remains firm.
“Our campaigns continue without interruption. There is no stopping the affordability train or our mission to make life better for Nigerians. We will continue taking our message to the people as we pursue every lawful avenue to defend our rights.
“We are confident that the facts and the law will receive a full hearing. The ADC will continue to pursue this matter through the courts and stand for a democratic process in which every party and every voter is treated fairly.”
The Federal High Court had before now, sacked the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC, effectively putting the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in jeopardy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Opposition parties have jointly rejected the court judgement, describing it as an attack on democracy.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and 16 other presidential candidates are seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked the Senator David Mark-led executives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and invalidated all actions they took on behalf of the party.
The actions included the nomination of a former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, whose name was earlier published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a candidate for the presidential poll, has since chosen a former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
However, in a judgment delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, the court declared illegal the Senator Mark-led Caretaker Committee of the ADC, which organised the primary election that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
The court found merit in a suit brought before it by the aggrieved former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Gombe had approached the court to query the process through which the Senator Mark-led Committee took over the reins of leadership of the party.
He maintained that, with the resignation of the former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he (Gombe) was qualified to assume the party’s leadership.
Consequently, he, among other things, prayed the court to nullify all actions taken on behalf of the party by the Senator Mark-led leadership.
Listed as defendants in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, were the ADC, INEC, Senator Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu.
The plaintiff further urged the court to restrain Senator Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the ADC, insisting that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Already, the ADC has vowed to appeal the judgment.
Reacting to the outcome of the case, the National Welfare Secretary of the ADC, Mr. Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was later joined as an interested party in the matter, said the verdict would be challenged at the appellate court.
The development comes barely 24 hours after the party’s candidate, Atiku, held a massive rally in Sokoto State as part of his campaign for the 2027 presidential election.
Police and other security operatives on Wednesday prevented a possible violent clash in Calabar, Cross River State, between hundreds of supporters of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso and a large group of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters on a campaign walk.
The meeting, organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, was to feature Obi, its presidential candidate, and Kwankwaso, his running mate. It was scheduled to be held at a hotel along Murtala Mohammed Highway, near the U.J. Esuene Stadium.
According to report, the APC supporters, who had mobilised in large numbers for a street rally in the same area, included members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, and other party faithful.
Tension rose as both groups met in front of the hotel. Hundreds of Obi and Kwankwaso supporters had gathered there, partially blocking the highway in an apparent attempt to stop the APC supporters from reaching the venue.
Security operatives separated the two groups and diverted the APC crowd. The hotel management later restricted access to its premises as security personnel maintained order around the facility.
A police officer, who declined to be named, said the intervention was necessary to forestall bloodshed.
“What we have done is very necessary; otherwise, it would have been a bloody scene,” he said,.the report also quoted the officer.
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