100 days to poll: Parties intensify campaigns for 2027

With about 100 days to the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, political parties across several states are stepping up mobilisation, consultations and campaign preparations, although the level of organisation varies significantly.

While the ruling All Progressives Congress is relying largely on its control of government and established grassroots structures, the opposition African Democratic Congress is emerging as one of the most active challengers in states including Sokoto and Kebbi.

In several other states, however, parties are yet to constitute or inaugurate their campaign councils, with consultations, political realignments and grassroots mobilisation dominating activities ahead of the elections.

The Allied Peoples Movement has constituted its campaign council, with its presidential candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and his running mate, Lawal Daura, embarking on regional stakeholders’ meetings to sensitise voters.

The Independent National Electoral Commission fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship and State House of Assembly polls will hold on February 6.

Presidential campaigns commenced on August 19, while campaigns for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections began on September 9.

Findings by The PUNCH across Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe, Jigawa, Edo, Bauchi, Benue, Zamfara and Nasarawa states showed that the parties are moving at different speeds as the elections draw closer.

In Sokoto, the APC appears to have the strongest established political machinery, with structures spanning the state’s 23 local government areas and 244 wards.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu was affirmed as the party’s 2027 governorship candidate after delegates and stakeholders across the 244 wards endorsed him through a consensus arrangement.

The party has also completed the election of its local government executives and has continued to engage them and other local political leaders ahead of the election.

Although the APC has not publicly detailed a separate, fully constituted state-level presidential campaign council comparable to some opposition structures, its existing party and government machinery has enabled it to maintain grassroots mobilisation.

The party has also received opposition politicians, including former PDP chairman in Sokoto North, Sanusi Kyame, and former ADC Director-General in Tambuwal Local Government Area, Umar Salah.

The ADC, however, has mounted a more visible campaign in recent weeks.

Its governorship candidate, former deputy governor Manir Muhammad Dan’Iya, has taken the party’s message to communities, while the party has held solidarity rallies in Sokoto North and Kware.

Dan’Iya claimed that about 40,000 youths participated in the two rallies, although the figures were the candidate’s claims and were not independently verified.

The ADC has also strengthened its campaign organisation by appointing former Sokoto PDP chairman Muhammad Bello Aliyu Goronyo as Director-General of Dan’Iya’s campaign organisation.

Security, education, healthcare, agriculture, employment, infrastructure and economic empowerment are among the issues emerging in the contest.

Security, in particular, has already become a point of confrontation, with Dan’Iya raising concerns about insecurity and the state government accusing opposition politicians of politicising the issue.

The battle in Sokoto is therefore increasingly shaping up as one between the APC’s established ward and local government structures and the ADC’s attempt to build a broader opposition network.

A similar pattern is emerging in Kebbi, where the APC is relying on its governing-party machinery while the ADC has unveiled a more elaborate campaign organisation.

The ADC governorship candidate and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), inaugurated a 600-member campaign council on August 26, directing members to establish a coordinated grassroots structure across the state’s 21 local government areas.

Former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Sani Tadurga, was appointed Director-General, with deputies representing the three senatorial districts.

The party subsequently flagged off its campaign, focusing on agriculture, education, security, healthcare, tourism and local government.

The APC, meanwhile, is depending on its existing statewide structure and the government of Governor Nasir Idris, who has been affirmed as its governorship candidate.

The administration has also unveiled the Tinubu/Kaura “City Boy Movement” campaign office in Birnin Kebbi for advocacy, mobilisation and coordination of activities in support of President Bola Tinubu and APC candidates.

The political exchanges between the APC and ADC have already begun, with governance, public expenditure and the record of the incumbent administration becoming major areas of contention.

The Kebbi campaign is also being conducted against the backdrop of concerns over political violence, following reported violence in parts of Jega Local Government Area and a warning by the state government against thuggery and destruction of property.

In Yobe, the contest is being shaped by consultations, defections and a legal battle over the APC governorship primary.

APC governorship candidate Baba Malam Wali has consulted traditional rulers and visited the state’s 14 emirate councils to seek royal blessings and establish links with traditional institutions and communities.

However, his emergence remains subject to a court challenge by another aspirant, Mustapha Maihaja, who is contesting the conduct of the May 21, 2026 primary.

The Federal High Court in Damaturu is hearing the case, with the petitioner alleging that the exercise did not comply with the APC’s guidelines and procedures.

The respondents have defended the process and urged the court to determine the matter on the evidence before it.

While the case continues, the APC has also strengthened its political position through defections.

More than 8,000 people reportedly defected to the party in the Nangere LGA in September, with politicians from the NNPP and PDP among those associated with the movement.

Opposition parties mobilising

The ADC has commenced consultations with political figures and communities and is seeking to establish itself as a major opposition platform.

The party, however, is also engaged in a dispute with the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission over the 2026 local government elections.

The YPP governorship candidate, Muhammad Dawud, has also commenced mobilisation across the state’s three geopolitical zones.

In Jigawa, political activity remains at a more cautious stage.

The APC is yet to constitute its campaign council, although its grassroots mobilisation is ongoing across the 27 local government areas.

The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Bashir Kundu, said the leadership was still consulting to ensure an inclusive campaign structure.

“We have not constituted our campaign council yet because we are still consulting widely. The party is working to ensure an all-inclusive council that will carry everybody along,” he said.

He added that, “Full electioneering has not commenced. We are in the preparatory stage, but our grassroots mobilisation is ongoing silently across the 27 local government areas.”

The PDP has gone further, having constituted a 45-member campaign council headed by its governorship candidate, Mustapha Lamido, although the council was yet to be inaugurated at the time of the report.

The ADC has also begun mobilisation despite not formally announcing its campaign council.

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Its state deputy chairman, Nuraddeen Jidawa, said, “We have not announced our council officially, but we have started mobilisation. Our structure is functional in all local governments, and we are receiving defectors from the ruling APC and PDP daily.”

The LP and NDC remain at the preparatory stage.

In Edo, the APC has moved ahead of several of its counterparts by inaugurating its state presidential campaign council and commencing campaign activities.

Governor Monday Okpebholo charged the council, co-chaired by former governor Adams Oshiomhole and state APC chairman Jarrett Tenebe, to take the party’s message to every ward and polling unit.

He also urged members to involve youths, women, traditional institutions, traders and other stakeholders, while explaining the administration’s programmes and achievements.

The ADC, however, is yet to inaugurate its campaign council, with its state spokesman, Chris Ojeikere, saying the council would be inaugurated in October.

In Bauchi, the major parties are still consulting on the composition of their campaign councils despite increasing political activity.

The APC, PDP and ADC were yet to formally inaugurate their councils at the time of the report.

The delay has not stopped mobilisation, however, as parties weigh political influence, grassroots connections and the need to balance competing interests in the composition of their campaign teams.

The Bauchi contest is particularly significant because Governor Bala Mohammed is serving his final constitutional term, making succession one of the major issues driving political calculations.

No fewer than 19 candidates have reportedly emerged as contenders for the governorship election, including one woman.

In Benue, most of the leading governorship candidates have yet to fully constitute their campaign councils.

The PDP candidate, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), has, however, appointed Dr Laha Dzever as Director-General of his campaign organisation.

The APC’s campaign council is also yet to be constituted, with the party’s state publicity secretary, Benedict Yawe, saying it would be constituted soon.

The delay has reportedly been compounded by internal disagreements within the APC, with the party divided between supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

In Zamfara, political parties are also yet to formally begin campaigns or constitute campaign councils, although consultations and media mobilisation are underway.

Parties have been sponsoring radio jingles and holding consultations ahead of the poll.

The NDC said arrangements were at an advanced stage to constitute its campaign council before commencing full-scale campaigning.

The major parties were yet to fully constitute their campaign councils in Nasarawa, but the PDP had already flagged off its campaign, while the APC and ADC governorship candidates were preparing to align their campaign organisations with decisions of their respective parties.

NDC shelves manifesto unveiling

The Nigeria Democratic Congress has put the unveiling of its 2027 manifesto on hold until it inaugurates its Presidential Campaign Council, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, has disclosed.

Director, who spoke exclusively to The PUNCH, said the manifesto was nearing completion, but the party would not unveil it until the campaign council was constituted.

“We will soon unveil it. However, you will have to wait a bit until we inaugurate our Presidential Campaign Council,” he said.

He said the party had yet to fix a date for the inauguration but assured that it would take place “very soon.”

Although, Director acknowledged that former presidential candidate and Professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, featured permanently among those writing the manifesto, he declined to disclose the identities of other members of the drafting team.

Peace committee warns

The National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar and convened by Most Rev Matthew Kukah, has warned President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde and other political actors against inflammatory and inciting campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The committee also raised the alarm over 60 election-related incidents recorded across the country within one month, including political violence, intimidation, threats, attacks on political activities and misinformation.

The NPC made its position known in a statement jointly signed by Abubakar and Kukah on Monday.

The latest warning followed the August 18 signing of the National Peace Accord by major political parties and candidates ahead of the commencement of public campaigns.

The statement read, “To political parties, candidates, and supporters: Immediately stop false, inflammatory or inciting communication. Uphold the commitments of the Accord, verify information before publication, and actively prevent supporters from engaging in unlawful conduct, intimidation, or disruption.

“As the 2027 electoral cycle progresses, the message of the NPC remains clear and unwavering. Every candidate must be able to campaign peacefully; every political party must be able to organise lawfully; and every citizen must be able to make a political choice without intimidation or coercion.

“To INEC, strengthen monitoring of political campaigns and ensure compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and applicable regulations governing political parties and campaign conduct.

“Where breaches are identified, the commission should take appropriate regulatory action within its mandate and promptly refer suspected criminal violations to the relevant law-enforcement agencies.”

The panel also called on security agencies to intensify investigations into electoral offences and political violence.

“The committee reminds all signatories that the National Peace Accord is a solemn public commitment, not a ceremonial declaration.

“To the Nigeria Police Force and Security Agencies: Intensify prompt, impartial, and evidence-driven investigations into electoral offences and political violence,” it added.

The warning came barely six weeks after political parties and presidential and National Assembly candidates signed the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 electoral cycle, pledging to shun violence, hate speech, misinformation, personal attacks and other conduct capable of undermining the elections.

The committee said its Election Security Information Hub monitored political conduct and developments between August 19 and September 19, recording 60 election-related incidents, many of which ran contrary to the commitments made under the accord.

Misinformation and disinformation constituted the largest category, accounting for 24 incidents, or 40 per cent of the total.

The NPC highlighted that the falsehood was followed by attacks and disruptions affecting political activities and assets, with 13 incidents, representing 21.7 per cent, while political intimidation and threats, including incidents involving security personnel, accounted for 10 cases, or 16.7 per cent.

Political violence and thuggery accounted for six incidents, representing 10 per cent, while inflammatory statements made up four cases, or 6.7 per cent.

The committee also recorded one incident each involving restrictions on freedom of expression, intra-party conflicts and voter inducement.

The NPC said the figures showed “deviations from peaceful and issue-based campaigns by political actors and their supporters” as envisaged by the Peace Accord.

It warned that such developments could restrict political participation, erode public confidence in the electoral system and escalate tensions as political competition intensifies.