Ahead of Saturday’s formal flag-off of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign in Kaduna, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have intensified their political rivalry, with the opposition party dismissing claims that it has lost relevance in the state, even as the ruling party mobilises supporters across the North-West.

The political exchanges came as Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, declared the state ready to receive Tinubu and thousands of party supporters for the campaign launch, while Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, urged residents to support the President’s re-election, arguing that continued alignment with the Federal Government would accelerate development.

Although the APC is projecting confidence ahead of the Kaduna rally, the ADC insists that its internal leadership disputes and ongoing litigation should not be mistaken for political collapse, warning the ruling party against underestimating the opposition ahead of the elections.

A factional ADC governorship candidate in Kaduna, Shuaibu Idris Miqati, who challenged claims by APC leaders that the party was dead in the state, acknowledged that the opposition was grappling with internal disagreements but maintained that it remained capable of dislodging the ruling party.

“Can someone be pronounced dead simply because the person has headache? I suggest the ruling party should tread on the path of caution and not to be carried away by euphoria and euphemism,” he said.

Miqati’s declaration came against the backdrop of unresolved disputes within the Kaduna ADC, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised Isa Mohammed Ashiru as the party’s governorship candidate, with Irmiya Ishaku Kantiok as his running mate.

Miqati, however, maintained that he won the party’s governorship primary and expressed confidence that the courts would eventually resolve the dispute in his favour.

As the bona fide winner of the primary election for Kaduna State governorship seat, as soon as the court certifies me and my name is uploaded in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s server, I will come out with a detailed program and you would see changes and improvements. In Shaa Allah,” he said.

He identified leadership struggles between legacy members and politicians who joined through the opposition coalition, litigation over party positions, the continued detention of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and disputes arising from the governorship primaries as some of the challenges confronting the ADC.

Nevertheless, he rejected suggestions that the party had become politically irrelevant.

“We can’t claim there are no challenges or problems or even difficulties. But is the party dead? I will say certainly NO! It’s alive kicking and even waxing stronger. We are poised to take the leadership,” he declared.

Miqati argued that the coalition arrangement which strengthened the ADC had inevitably produced disagreements among politicians from different backgrounds, but said most legacy members had accepted the need to work with the new entrants.

“Majority of the legacy members of the party have seen reasons to align their position to the coalition while a few have not seen the point. Both new and old members know that we need one another,” he said.

On the delay in announcing the ADC’s campaign programme, Miqati dismissed suggestions that the party had fallen behind the APC, insisting that there was still sufficient time to organise its electoral machinery.

“The elections are set to come up in January next year. This is October, I believe there is still time. Remember the adage ‘a day can be longer than a year in politics’! We shall surprise you and surprise all.”

He acknowledged that inadequate funding remained a challenge but maintained that the problem was not peculiar to the ADC. According to him, the party expects to unveil a more detailed campaign programme at the national and state levels by the end of October or early November, subject to the resolution of outstanding disputes.

While the ADC sought to dispel doubts about its electoral strength, the APC intensified preparations for Saturday’s presidential campaign flag-off at the Kaduna Township Stadium.

Balarabe, who chairs the Local Organising Committee (LOC), said after inspecting the venue on Wednesday evening that virtually all major arrangements had been concluded.

“I’m comfortable with what has been done so far. We have the holding area, the conveniences are ready, and the pavilions are ready. What remains is the markings for the different states.”

She disclosed that security agencies at the state and federal levels had been involved in planning the event, with arrangements made to screen participants before admission into the stadium.

“We have taken security into serious consideration. There will be screening before people are allowed into the stadium, and we want everyone attending to feel safe,” she said.

The deputy governor expressed confidence that the rally would attract a large turnout of APC supporters from across the country, particularly the North-West, where the party is seeking to consolidate its support ahead of the presidential election.

Kaduna State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, said preparations had extended beyond the stadium to hotels and other hospitality facilities across the metropolis.

According to him, hotels and serviced apartments in Kaduna had been fully booked because of the expected influx of party leaders, delegates and supporters.

“Kaduna State is privileged and honoured to host the flag-off of the presidential campaign. Our people are eager to welcome President Tinubu,” he said.

Maiyaki maintained that Kaduna had benefited considerably from the APC-led Federal Government, citing federal appointments and infrastructure projects as evidence of the administration’s commitment to the state.

Among the projects he listed were the conversion of the Federal College of Education, Zaria, into a university, the reported conversion of Kaduna Polytechnic into a Federal University of Technology, the award of the contract for the reconstruction of the 122-kilometre Mando-Birnin Gwari Road and the proposed Kaduna Light Rail Project.

He argued that the projects provided sufficient grounds for residents to support the President’s re-election bid.

As the ruling party prepared to demonstrate its political strength in Kaduna, Okpebholo took the campaign for Tinubu’s continued leadership to Edo State, warning against allowing opposition politics to undermine the state’s development prospects.

Speaking during a visit to the Ojuromi of Uromi, Zaiki Anselm Aidenojie II, at his palace in Esan North-East Local Government Area, the governor said the Federal Government’s economic reforms were beginning to produce results and deserved the support of Edo residents.

Okpebholo, who was accompanied by APC members, listed road construction, primary healthcare upgrades, regular salary payments and school projects among the achievements of his administration.

He acknowledged that many of the projects would take time to deliver their full benefits.

“Most of the work I am undertaking can not manifest in one day. It takes time because it involves construction.

“Many roads have been completed, and we have started several others in different parts of the state. They will ease movement and improve economic activities in Edo,” he said.

The governor also disclosed that a 100-megawatt power plant was expected to come on stream in Edo South, alongside another project designed to add 16 megawatts to the state’s electricity supply.

“These projects are part of our efforts to address the power problem in the state,” he said.

Linking the projects to the Federal Government’s support, Okpebholo urged residents to embrace Tinubu’s administration rather than return Edo to opposition politics.

“The man driving that success is Mr. President. That is why I am here to tell you that I do not want Edo to be in opposition to this government because of the progress we are already making,” he declared.

Earlier, Aidenojie, speaking on behalf of the Esan Enigies, commended the governor’s development efforts and prayed for wisdom and divine guidance for his administration.

The traditional ruler, who described Okpebholo as his son, also expressed confidence that the governor would complete an anticipated eight years in office.

The developments underline the contrasting political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections, with the APC seeking to turn its control of government and claims of development achievements into electoral support, while the ADC struggles to resolve internal disputes and convince voters that it remains a credible alternative.

Saturday’s Kaduna rally is expected to provide an early test of the APC’s mobilisation strength in the North-West, even as the opposition insists that the contest for political control of the region is far from settled. (The Sun)