As Nigeria’s political horizon gradually tilts towards 2027, Katsina State has sent a loud and carefully choreographed signal to the nation, the All Progressives Congress is not waiting for the campaign season to define its direction. In a sweeping show of unity, strength and mobilisation, APC stakeholders in Katsina formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dikko Umaru Radda as the party’s sole candidates for the next general elections, transforming the state into one of the earliest political theatres of the emerging contest.
The endorsement meeting, held amid massive turnout of party leaders and grassroots actors, was more than a routine political gathering. It became a strategic statement of loyalty, continuity and structure, bringing together party elders, former governors and deputy governors, National and State Assembly members, local government chairmen, councillors, ward executives and representatives from across Katsina’s 6,650 polling units. The atmosphere reflected not only celebration but also calculation, as APC in Katsina positioned itself as a decisive force in Nigeria’s future political equation.
Addressing the stakeholders, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda declared Katsina an unshakable APC stronghold, describing the party’s political structures in the state as historic, deeply rooted and fully mobilised. According to him, the endorsement of President Tinubu and his own second term ambition was not a spontaneous decision but a product of long standing political culture, discipline and alignment with national progress.
Radda traced Katsina’s political journey through Nigeria’s democratic evolution, recalling how the state has historically aligned with the South West on issues of leadership and national stability. He evoked the era of the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and the historic support Katsina gave to Chief Moshood Abiola during the Social Democratic Party period, noting that the alliance between the North West and South West has always been built on mutual respect and shared sacrifices.
“It was in Katsina that one of the most significant democratic movements in Nigeria was nurtured,” the governor said. He recalled how the people of the state demonstrated commitment to national unity under the leadership of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later extended similar loyalty to late President Muhammadu Buhari and now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. For Radda, Katsina’s politics is defined not by opportunism but by consistency.
He explained that the state’s renewed backing of President Tinubu is anchored on a principled partnership that transcends election cycles. “The people of Katsina have faithfully fulfilled their due and the people of the South West have reciprocated. This enduring partnership confirms that our alliance is not a one time occurrence. Today, we fully endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his second term,” Radda stated, projecting continuity from 2023 to 2031.
Beyond rhetoric, the governor showcased the numerical and structural strength of APC in Katsina. He revealed that all 361 councillors, all 34 local government chairmen and all local government legislative members belong to APC. He further emphasised that every member of the State Assembly, National Assembly members from the state and the governor himself are products of the party.
“This shows clearly that APC is united and strong in Katsina,” he said, stressing that political cohesion, rather than mere popularity, would determine electoral outcomes in 2027.
One of the most symbolic moments of the event was the formal handover of political defectors to the APC National Chairman. Former governorship candidates and prominent figures from PRP, NNPP, PDP and APGA were received into the party, underscoring Katsina APC’s strategy of expansion rather than exclusion. Radda described the development as evidence of grassroots confidence in his administration and the national leadership of the party.
Turning to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Radda made a bold political declaration. He assured that Katsina would not merely support President Tinubu but would compete nationally in terms of electoral contribution. By invoking Lagos State and Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu in a friendly political challenge, Radda signalled Katsina’s intention to rise as a frontline political power centre ahead of 2027.
“APC National Chairman, hear me clearly today, Katsina APC is united, cohesive and fully mobilised. By the grace of Allah, in 2027, Katsina will deliver support for President Tinubu that will rival and even surpass what Lagos can offer,” he declared, drawing applause from the packed hall.
He thanked stakeholders for the unprecedented turnout, noting that representatives from all polling units, wards, local governments and state structures were present. For the governor, the gathering was proof that Katsina APC is disciplined, organised and capable not only of endorsing leadership but of delivering electoral victory.
Radda further reassured that both his administration and the party would continue to prioritise public interest, good governance and internal cohesion, stressing that political strength must be matched with service delivery.
Earlier in his remarks, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda commended Governor Radda for what he described as visible and practical governance. He pointed to improvements in road infrastructure, water supply, education and healthcare as factors drawing more citizens and politicians into APC’s fold.
According to Yilwatda, political loyalty grows where governance is felt. He welcomed the defectors into the party, assuring them equal rights and opportunities and cautioned that APC’s strength lies in fairness, inclusion and discipline across its structures.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, described the endorsement as a historic milestone for Katsina and Nigeria at large. He linked the state’s political direction to APC’s growing national dominance, noting that the party controls 29 out of Nigeria’s 36 states. For him, Katsina’s solid support for President Tinubu would naturally attract stronger federal presence and development interventions.
He praised Radda’s projects and reforms, noting that performance at the state level complements national leadership and makes political endorsements credible rather than symbolic.
Former Governor Aminu Bello Masari took stakeholders down memory lane, reflecting on Katsina’s traditional role in stabilising Nigeria’s politics. He argued that the state has always served as a moral and political compass in moments of national transition. Masari commended Governor Radda for aligning governance with citizens’ needs and values, describing the endorsement as a collective decision rooted in experience and foresight.
Chairman of the Katsina State Stakeholders’ Forum, Senator Ibrahim Ida, described the event as a defining political moment that cut across party lines and personal interests. He explained that the endorsement followed extensive consultations among leaders and stakeholders, adding that both President Tinubu and Governor Radda have shown commitment to economic stability, institutional strengthening and development.
Former Governor Ibrahim Shema added a spiritual tone to the political gathering, stating that the emergence of both leaders was by the will of Almighty Allah. He pledged loyalty, unity and commitment towards ensuring their success in 2027, emphasising that politics must be anchored on faith, patience and collective responsibility.
Tukur Ahmed Jikamshi, former Deputy Governor and Coordinator of the Katsina State Renewed Hope Agenda Initiative, stressed the importance of solidarity among party members. He argued that coordinated efforts, rather than individual ambitions, would determine APC’s electoral strength. According to him, Katsina’s political future depends on how effectively leaders and followers work together ahead of 2027.
The Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Hon. Nasir Yahaya Daura, declared that all 34 members of the Assembly fully support President Tinubu and Governor Radda as APC’s sole candidates for 2027. He cited the governor’s visible achievements across communities as justification for legislative loyalty.
Similarly, Hon. Sada Soli, speaking for the 15 National Assembly members, and Senator Dandutse, on behalf of the three Senators from the state, reaffirmed united support, arguing that major projects and policy directions under both leaders warranted continuity rather than experimentation.
Other party leaders echoed the same position. APC State Chairman Hon. Sani J.B. Daura spoke for the State Executive Committee, ALGON Chairman Hon. Rabo Tambaya represented the 34 local government chairmen and 361 councillors, Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa spoke for federal appointees while the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters, Hon. Ibrahim Kabir Masari, highlighted Katsina’s strategic political importance in national elections and praised both leaders for bringing honour to the state.
Beyond the speeches and endorsements, the Katsina gathering revealed a deeper political message. It illustrated how early alignment, unity and structure are becoming central to Nigeria’s evolving electoral strategies. Rather than waiting for campaign seasons, parties are now building narratives, loyalty and mobilisation years ahead.
For Katsina APC, the endorsement of Tinubu and Radda is not only about personalities but about projecting stability, continuity and influence within the national political space. As 2027 approaches, the state is positioning itself not merely as a participant in Nigeria’s democracy but as a bargaining power whose votes, structures and alliances could shape the country’s next political chapter.
In the unfolding drama of Nigeria’s future elections, Katsina has clearly chosen its script early. Whether other states will match its level of organisation and political clarity remains to be seen, but one fact stands firm, the political machinery of Katsina APC has already rolled onto the national stage.
