Atiku Plans Nationwide Campaign Across All 36 States, ADC Says

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is set to campaign across all 36 states of Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election, according to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.

Phrank Shaibu, the council’s Director of Strategic Communication, disclosed the plan during an interview on ARISE News on Sunday, saying no state would be excluded from Atiku’s campaign activities.

Shaibu said the campaign timetable would be released soon, allowing Nigerians to see how the former vice-president intends to engage voters across the country. He dismissed suggestions that Atiku’s campaign would focus mainly on Northern Nigeria, insisting that the candidate planned to reach communities in every part of the federation.

According to Shaibu, the campaign would extend beyond rallies in state capitals to include town hall meetings, community engagements and visits to local government areas and villages. He said the approach was designed to give Atiku opportunities to interact directly with residents, listen to their concerns and explain his plans for the country.

The campaign spokesperson argued that economic hardship was affecting Nigerians across regional and political boundaries. He maintained that concerns about the cost of living could influence voters’ decisions in both Northern and Southern Nigeria.

Shaibu expressed confidence that Atiku’s message would appeal to Nigerians struggling with rising living expenses. He also predicted that the former vice-president could secure nationwide support, although the eventual outcome will depend on voters and the campaign’s ability to translate its promises into electoral backing.

The ADC’s proposed strategy comes amid discussions over President Bola Tinubu’s campaign schedule for the 2027 election. Tinubu has indicated that he will not personally attend campaign rallies in every state, explaining that he must balance electioneering with his responsibilities as president.

The ruling All Progressives Congress has outlined plans for Tinubu to participate in campaign rallies across 12 states. The ADC has presented its proposed nationwide outreach as a different approach to engaging voters ahead of the election.

Atiku, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party, is now preparing to seek the presidency under the ADC platform. His campaign faces the challenge of building support across Nigeria’s diverse political regions while addressing voters’ concerns about the economy, security, employment and governance.

Although the ADC has announced its intention to reach every state, the detailed campaign timetable had not yet been released at the time of the announcement. The extent of the proposed visits and the level of voter support they generate will become clearer as the campaign progresses.