Malami, Galadima, Chinda, Adebutu flag off gov’ship campaigns

On the day campaigns officially began for the governorship and House of Assembly elections, four candidates across Nigeria announced the start of their respective campaigns. They are Abubakar Malami from Kebbi State, representing the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Tijani Ahmad Galadima from Adamawa State, a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Kingsley Chinda from Rivers State, the candidate of the APC; and Oladipupo Adebutu from Ogun State, the candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Malami's campaign team in Kebbi began their efforts by criticizing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government over its alleged poor management of the state budget, spending, insecurity issues, and closure of schools for seven months. ADC Campaign Council Director General Sani Tadurga and Director General Media, Research, and Policy Analysis, Abubakar Bello Abdullahi, pointed out the failure of the APC government to address the increasing incidents of banditry-related killings in the region.

Adamawa State's APC gubernatorial candidate, Tijani Ahmad Galadima, also kicked off his 2027 governorship campaign. Galadima vowed to build upon the achievements of the incumbent Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri's administration. Speaking at a press conference in Yola, he pledged to shift the state's economy from one heavily dependent on federal allocations to one driven by production, enterprise, investment, and innovation.

Galadima highlighted Fintiri's contributions to the state's development during his seven-year tenure and emphasized the necessity of independent economic activity for a state's financial choices.

Oladipupo Adebutu, the PDP candidate for Ogun State governorship, similarly commenced his campaign with a promise to "liberate" the state from poverty, insecurity, unemployment, and poor governance. He unveiled his campaign agenda, "ITURA DE," at Ake Palace in Abeokuta, which focuses on seven priority areas: improved security and law enforcement, financial autonomy for local governments, economic development, and expansion of social services.

Adebutu also promised to restore genuine financial autonomy to local governments to create additional centers of development across the state.

Finally, Kingsley Chinda, the APC candidate in Rivers State, pledged to serve the people of the state with the "fear of God and mankind" when elected. Chinda, an ally of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), made his campaign pledge on X and solicited the support of the people of Rivers.