Tinubu launches 2027 reelection campaign in Kaduna

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu formally launched his 2027 reelection campaign at an All Progressives Congress rally in Kaduna on Saturday, seeking a second term and promising prosperity as voters face rising living costs. Tinubu blamed opposition parties for hunger and poverty, saying his administration was working to eradicate both. The remarks were campaign claims, and he did not cite economic indicators at the rally to support his attribution. He also promised growth, recovery and opportunity if reelected, and urged eligible voters to obtain and use their Permanent Voter Cards. The presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission. Tinubu, who won the 2023 election with more than 8.7 million votes, will face more than a dozen opposition candidates, according to reporting on the campaign. Analysts have suggested the contest could center on Tinubu and two rivals he defeated in 2023: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi. Public discontent over economic conditions is a challenge for Tinubu’s reelection effort, political analyst Majeed Dahiru said. He described the...