Kaduna wore a brand new look on Friday as the ancient city bubbled with excitement ahead of today’s grand kick-off of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign.
From major roads to street corners, the city was draped in APC colours. Flags, banners and billboards adorned the Ranchers Bees Stadium, venue of the mega rally, which has been given a facelift for the historic event.
State governors, party leaders, including APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council Abdulaziz Yari, and thousands of supporters from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory stormed Kaduna ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s arrival.
Hotels in and around the metropolis are fully booked, while security has been tightened with police and other operatives deployed across the city, especially on roads leading to the stadium.
10,000 Support Groups Mobilise For Tinubu
In a foretaste of what to expect today, pro-Tinubu support groups on Friday staged a massive solidarity road march through major streets of Kaduna.
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The march, organised by the Support Groups Mobilisation Directorate of the Presidential Campaign Council, drew members of various groups who chanted solidarity songs and declared readiness to deliver votes for Tinubu in 2027.
Director of the Directorate, Silas Ali Agara, said about 10,000 support groups had been mobilised nationwide to welcome the President and demonstrate commitment to his second term bid.
“We want to show Mr President that Nigerians love him, the people of Kaduna State love him, and the youth of this country love him,” Agara said.
He said similar marches would hold in every state the President visits, with structures already in place for grassroots mobilisation.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, said the march showed growing support for Tinubu, citing massive road, water, education and health interventions by the administration.
Director-General of the National Productivity Centre and Northwest Coordinator of Tinubu Support Groups, Dr Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, said the exercise was to assess the strength and readiness of support groups ahead of the flag-off.
Massive Turnout Expected Despite Venue Constraints
Northwest APC Publicity Secretary, Mailafiya Mada, said the party is expecting a massive turnout, though the Ranchers Bees Stadium may be too small. He explained that the alternative, Ahmadu Bello Stadium, is under renovation.
“We have a certain number of people that can be accommodated inside, while arrangements will be made to manage the others around the venue. I assure you that the turnout is going to be massive,” he said.
Tinubu To Inaugurate 81km Abuja-Kaduna Highway
On the sidelines of the rally, President Tinubu will inaugurate an 81-kilometre stretch of the Abuja-Kaduna highway built with reinforced concrete pavement and streetlights.
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the road will make night travel easier and is part of 4,084 kilometres of roads targeted in the Northwest.
According to him, 118km of Lot 1 of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway has been completed, including 81km of continuously reinforced concrete pavement, while 164km of Lot 2 is also completed.
