A show of force was staged in Madobi, the hometown of Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the NDC vice Presidential candidate, as hundreds of women, youths, and political stakeholders rallied behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid. The mobilisation, led by frontline APC stalwart Dr Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, brought together supporters from previously opposing political camps. The gathering was marked by pro-Tinubu chants and songs, with women and youth groups pledging to take the campaign to the doorsteps of residents ahead of the 2027 general election.
Musa Illiyasu addressed the multitude, highlighting the significance of the gathering, which he described as an unprecedented development in the political history of the area. He said the coalition had brought together forces that had spent years competing against one another. The APC chieftain recalled the fierce political contests that had characterised the relationship between the rival camps, saying neither side had consistently dominated the other.
The rally demonstrated the emergence of a different political configuration, driven by local actors determined to support the Tinubu administration. Musa Illiyasu stressed that the latest mobilisation was a testament to the changing political landscape in the area. He noted that Madobi zone had never seen a realignment movement like the one witnessed, with forces that had fought each other 28 years ago now coming together.
Former House of Assembly member and grassroots politician, Habibu Hassan Elyakub, who was part of the emerging alliance, said the coalition had altered the political equation in the area. He argued that the alliance had provided the APC with a broader grassroots structure, which would translate into an aggressive campaign for Tinubu ahead of the election.
Elyakub pointed to Musa Illiyasu's electoral record in Madobi, arguing that his repeated victories at the local-government level demonstrated that the emerging alliance had an established grassroots structure. He noted that despite the presence of Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in Madobi, Musa Illiyasu had been winning his elections, from local government chairman up till now.
The rally was seen as a significant show of support for President Tinubu's re-election bid, with Elyakub stating that the president could go to sleep with his two eyes closed, given the strength of the alliance. The emerging alliance has provided a boost to the APC's grassroots structure in the area, with Musa Illiyasu's electoral record seen as a key factor in the coalition's chances of success.
The mobilisation in Madobi is a significant development in the run-up to the 2027 general election, with the APC seeking to consolidate its support in key areas. The rally has demonstrated the ability of local actors to drive political realignment and mobilisation in support of the Tinubu administration.
Key points
- Musa Illiyasu leads hundreds of supporters in a show of force in Madobi, hometown of NDC vice Presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
- The rally marks an unprecedented development in the political history of the area, with forces that had fought each other now coming together in support of President Tinubu.
- The emerging alliance has provided the APC with a broader grassroots structure, which is expected to translate into an aggressive campaign for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
