The All Progressives Congress in Yobe State has staged a solidarity rally, mobilising thousands of supporters to counter the opposition slogan, ‘Tinubu Must Go’, and canvass support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The rally was held on Saturday in Damaturu, the state capital, under the theme, ‘Tinubu Must Go Again, Cika Alkawari’. It was organised by the Tinubu Must Go Again Movement in collaboration with the state leadership of the APC.
The mobilisation came weeks after hundreds of youths staged a protest in Potiskum Local Government Area of the state on October 1, Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, demanding Tinubu’s removal over economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and alleged poor governance.
Some of the protesters carried flags of the African Democratic Congress, expressing dissatisfaction with the President’s Independence Day broadcast, which they said failed to address the challenges facing Nigerians.
In a show of support for the President, thousands of youths, women and other APC supporters marched through major streets of Damaturu, endorsing Tinubu’s second-term ambition and the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Baba Malam Wali.
The Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Dr Mohammed Goje, led party stakeholders and supporters during the solidarity walk, which was coordinated by the movement’s National Coordinator, Professor Sherif Almuhajir, and its state coordinator, Dr Mukhtar Yarima Bularafa.
The procession commenced at the Damaturu flyover and terminated at the Pilgrim Commission Office Complex along the Damaturu-Potiskum Road.
Participants carried banners, posters of Tinubu, APC flags and placards highlighting what they described as the achievements of the President’s administration.
Speaking at the rally, Goje said Yobe had compelling reasons to support Tinubu, noting that the state had benefited from the cooperation between Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration and the Federal Government.
“Yobe State has every reason to support President Tinubu. The achievements recorded by Governor Mai Mala Buni have been made possible, in part, by the support and cooperation of the President,” Goje said.
He urged residents to sustain their support for the APC, saying the partnership between the state and the Federal Government remained important for Yobe’s development.
Similarly, Almuhajir called on Nigerians to support Tinubu’s re-election, citing what he described as the President’s achievements across the country.
“President Tinubu deserves another term in office. We believe in his leadership and are committed to mobilising support for him at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.
He added that the movement would intensify its mobilisation efforts to strengthen the APC’s support base across the state.
The rally also provided an opportunity for APC supporters to reaffirm their backing for Wali’s governorship ambition as political activities gathered momentum in Yobe.
The APC rally in Damaturu, which lasted from about 7:30am to 11:30am on Saturday, also ended peacefully, with no security incident reported.
The PUNCH Online gathered that the two demonstrations highlighted contrasting political positions emerging from Yobe State as supporters of the ruling party and critics of the Tinubu administration began mobilising ahead of the 2027 general elections.
