Presidential battle: Promises, power struggle as campaigns gather pace
The January 17, 2027 presidential race gathered momentum on Wednesday as President Bola Tinubu and opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar, Seyi Makinde and Peter Obi intensified their campaigns, unveiling competing promises on security, economic recovery, national unity and improved living conditions.
While Tinubu sought another four-year mandate on the strength of his administration’s policies and promised continuity, the opposition candidates criticised the state of the country and offered alternative plans to tackle mounting economic and security challenges.
The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, former Vice-President Atiku and that of the Allied People’s Movement, Oyo State Governor Makinde stepped up their campaigns against President Tinubu, with both opposition figures outlining their plans to address the country’s challenges.
Atiku, who took his presidential campaign to Sokoto, pledged to tackle insecurity and restore fuel subsidy if elected in 2027.
Similarly, Makinde unveiled his Reset Nigeria manifesto in Abuja, promising to ease the economic burden on Nigerians and improve their living conditions if elected president.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, also pledged to promote national unity, tackle insecurity and fight corruption if elected in the 2027 general election.
He condemned political violence ahead of the elections following an attack on his campaign convoy by suspected thugs in Calabar, Cross River State, on Wednesday.
While Tinubu is seeking re-election for a second term, Atiku, Makinde and Obi, who are contesting on the platforms of the ADC, APM and NDC, respectively, are among the major opposition figures challenging his bid.
Tinubu has urged voters in Nasarawa State’s 13 local government areas to support candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.
He made the appeal on Wednesday through Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the APC presidential campaign rally in Lafia, the state capital.
Tinubu said voting for APC candidates at all levels would guarantee the continuation of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He also cited road construction and rehabilitation, alongside improvements in healthcare facilities and schools, as some of the achievements recorded in Nasarawa State under his administration.
He urged residents to renew his mandate for another four years in 2027, promising to deliver more dividends of democracy if re-elected.
Tinubu stated, “We want to assure you that, if God wills and we win the upcoming elections, we will ensure that we support you for maximum safety. We call on you to vote for all our party’s candidates. The biggest message from the leader of the country is: APC from top to bottom, APC from bottom to top.
“We do not want a situation where they say, vote for the President and not the governor, or vote for the governor and not the President, or the senator, or the House of Assembly.
“We want APC straight! APC straight! APC from top to bottom and bottom to top. May God give us peace and understanding. May God grant us peace of mind. We thank you very much.”
He also commended Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, for executing projects aimed at improving residents’ living conditions.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, highlighted the benefits of Tinubu’s economic policies and urged Nigerians to re-elect the President for another four-year term to enable him to deliver more dividends of democracy.
He said, “It is our decision to continue the deliberate trajectory of Nigeria through the architect of modern Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We have come to Nasarawa State, and we have seen the developments. We have seen that, through the Renewed Hope Agenda, the hope of Nasarawa State has been renewed.
“And we are here to affirm once more that Nigeria is in good hands. All of you should vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We have worked so hard. We have 31 governors. The party is a family. We plead for peace and harmony, and we pray for a peaceful Nigeria. Support our President, support our governorship candidate, and support Nigeria. May God bless all of us as we support the All Progressives Congress,” he said.
The APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; and Director-General of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, expressed confidence that Nasarawa State would deliver massive support for the APC in the 2027 elections.
Earlier, Governor Sule, who expressed delight at the large turnout of APC supporters from Nasarawa and neighbouring North-Central states, assured Tinubu that the presidential and state campaign councils were committed to securing victory for all the party’s candidates.
Meanwhile, the APC Presidential Campaign Council has said the education reforms introduced by Tinubu’s administration have led to the disbursement of N372.62bn in student loans and the training of 156,446 beneficiaries under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme.
The council, in a statement by its spokesperson and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, on Wednesday, said the reforms had also expanded access to basic education, improved teachers’ welfare and stabilised the academic calendar in tertiary institutions across the country.
However, the administration’s education policies and reported achievements have faced criticism from opposition parties as the January 16, 2027 presidential election approaches.
While some opposition figures have faulted the reforms, others have questioned their impact on Nigerians.
In response, the APC PCC said the administration had introduced free technical education covering tuition, boarding, textbooks and uniforms to strengthen vocational skills and expand employment opportunities.
The statement read, “President Bola Tinubu’s reforms in the education sector since assuming office have expanded access to learning, improved teachers’ welfare and stabilised the academic calendar across higher institutions in the country.
“According to the Federal Ministry of Education’s 2026 report on the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative, the government’s interventions cover basic and secondary education, technical and vocational training, and tertiary education.
“The reforms focus on six priority areas: technical and vocational education, science and medical sciences, out-of-school children, girl-child education, digitalisation and education quality assurance.
“According to the NESRI report, the Federal Government allocated a record N3.52tn to education in the 2026 budget and secured $552m for the HOPE-EDU programme, which targets 29 million children, over 500,000 teachers and 65,000 public schools.”
The APC PCC stated that the BESDA programme had returned more than one million out-of-school children to classrooms, trained 1,400 Tsangaya teachers and established 200 bilingual centres in 17 northern states.
It added that the AGILE programme had reached 7.19 million girls, including 3.7 million enrolled in secondary schools, while more than 10,000 schools had received facility upgrades.
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