Yari, Shettima Head APC Campaign Council to Akure

Who is expected in Akure?

According to the Ondo State chapter of the APC, Vice President Shettima will lead a large group that includes party governors, federal ministers, members of the National Assembly, national party officials and other prominent figures. The state’s campaign council Director-General, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan, announced the plan at a press briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists press centre in Akure on Tuesday.

Olabimtan described the rally as a chance for the people of Ondo State to show their support for the President and the Renewed Hope agenda of his administration. He also said the event would mark the start of sustained political mobilisation, not the end of it, and he promised what he called the most organised presidential rally in the state’s history.

Leadership newspaper reported that the rally is scheduled for the Akure Township Stadium. It also reported that Olabimtan told journalists the party had settled its internal differences and would present a united front. Reports of divisions within the state party had circulated in the days before the event.

Why the President may not be there

The President’s absence, if confirmed, would not come as a surprise. At the inauguration of the campaign council at the State House in Abuja, Mr Tinubu said he would not be available for every campaign event, according to ThisDay, because he did not want to neglect the work of governing. The party then published a nationwide calendar of rallies covering all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with the President expected to lead the campaign in a limited number of states.

The calendar lists Akure on November 11, followed by Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on November 18, Bauchi on November 29, Makurdi, Benue State, on November 30, and Katsina on December 2. Owerri, Imo State, is listed for December 30.

Party leaders also say the rule that ministers and appointees should attend rallies in their home states is meant to spread the work of mobilisation. Daily Talk earlier reported that the APC directed ministers and political appointees to attend 2027 campaign rallies only in their home states, which makes the presence of Ondo-linked officials in Akure especially likely.

What happened in Dutse

The Jigawa rally took place on Tuesday, November 10, after the state government declared a work-free day so that residents could attend. Mr Tinubu travelled from Abuja to Dutse for the rally and for the commissioning of four projects: the Renewed Hope Technical Services Centre, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Multipurpose Skills Acquisition Centre, the state’s agricultural mechanisation programme and a dualised road in the city.

Speaking at the rally, Mr Yari told the President that the 2027 contest would be a walkover and that he should not worry about votes in the North, according to Naija News. He also said Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi had promised two million votes for Mr Tinubu out of more than 3.7 million registered voters in the state.

Mr Shettima urged northerners to support the President’s second-term bid, saying the region should repay what he described as the President’s respect for it. He said the Federal Government had set aside more than ₦50 billion for the Dutse Water Project. He also claimed that all four former governors of Jigawa, including Sule Lamido, now back the APC. Mr Lamido belongs to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Daily Talk could not independently verify the claim.

Ondo State’s political importance

Ondo State is one of the APC’s key south-west states. It is governed by the party, and the APC holds the state and local government structures. That gives the party a strong base, but also high expectations. The Ondo APC says it will deliver one million votes for Mr Tinubu in 2027 and plans grassroots mobilisation in all 18 local government areas of the state.

Mr Olabimtan pointed to federal projects as part of the party’s argument to voters, including the ongoing expansion and reconstruction of the Ore-Ondo-Akure road and the dualisation of the Ilesha-Akure-Owo-Benin road. Supporters of the government say such projects show progress. Critics often respond that road works and similar projects do not fix wider problems such as the cost of living, and opposition parties are expected to make that case as the campaign continues.

The Ondo chapter has also faced political pressure from other directions. Tribune Online reported that a forum in the state rejected a possible coalition deal that could force the APC to give up some of its candidates, arguing that a ruling party in control of state and local governments had no reason to make such a sacrifice. That debate shows how alliances, defections and local ambitions will shape the contest in the months ahead.

Security and public safety

Premium Times reported that security was tightened in Ondo State ahead of the rally. Large political gatherings in Nigeria usually involve police and other agencies managing traffic, crowd control and access to venues. Residents in Akure should expect road closures and heavy traffic around the stadium and nearby routes, and they are advised to plan journeys early, follow official announcements and avoid areas where large crowds gather if they do not need to be there.

Election laws and party guidelines require campaigns to be peaceful. Observers often urge all parties to restrain their supporters, avoid hate speech and let rival groups campaign without interference. The same rule applies to the APC, the PDP and every other party that fields candidates in 2027.

What it means for the 2027 race

The Dutse-to-Akure sequence shows the structure of the APC’s strategy: use the President’s presence for the biggest northern events and projects, and rely on senior figures such as Mr Shettima and Mr Yari where the President cannot attend. Party officials say the plan allows the campaign to cover the whole country without taking the President away from official duties for long periods.

For voters, the rallies are also a chance to hear what each side promises. Analysts say that, whatever the crowd size, the real test comes on election day, when turnout, party structure and the voters’ assessment of the economy and security will decide the result. Crowd size at a rally is not a reliable guide to voting patterns, so readers should treat claims of walkovers, landslides and defections with care until votes are counted.

Frequently asked questions

When is the APC presidential rally in Akure?
It is scheduled for today, Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the Akure Township Stadium, according to reports.

Will President Tinubu attend?
He may not be there in person. He attended the Dutse rally on Tuesday, and the Akure delegation is expected to be led by the Vice President and the campaign council’s Director-General.

Who is leading the APC team to Akure?
Senator Abdulaziz Yari, the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, and Vice President Kashim Shettima, the council’s Vice Chairman.

When is the next APC rally?
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, is listed for November 18 on the party’s published calendar. Dates may change, so check official party announcements.

Follow the story

Daily Talk will continue to follow developments from Akure and the wider campaign trail. For more coverage, visit our politics section, and read how the party’s internal disputes are playing out in other states in our report on the Benue APC’s supplementary Tinubu/Alia campaign list. You can also keep track of the days left to the vote with the Nigeria 2027 election countdown.

Editorial note: This report is based on public statements by party officials and on reports by Nigerian news outlets, including Tribune Online, Leadership, Premium Times, Naija News and ThisDay. The details of who attends the Akure rally may change. Claims made by politicians are attributed to them and are not confirmed by Daily Talk. This article is for information only and does not endorse any candidate or party.