APC confident of 2027 victory, says Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto are within reach

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed strong optimism ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that it has strengthened its grip on major swing states in the North-West and is well positioned for victory.

Speaking during a media chat in Abuja, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, gave a state-by-state assessment of the party’s political standing, beginning with Kano, which he described as already leaning in the party’s favour.

“I can assure you that Kano is a given to us as APC, and it is a swing state in the North-West,” he said.

Kano: APC Says Opposition Weakened

Yilwatda identified three key political blocs in Kano — the Ganduje bloc, the Kwankwaso bloc, and the Shekarau bloc — arguing that the APC has successfully weakened opposition influence while consolidating its own support base.

On the political weight of former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, he said many of the votes secured in 2023 came from aggrieved APC members who temporarily left the party but have now returned.

“It wasn’t Kwankwaso alone who delivered those votes. It was mostly aggrieved members of APC who moved to Kwankwaso and strengthened him. The two senators are back to APC. The House of Representatives, except one, have all moved to APC. The entire House of Assembly — only one remains. All the local government chairmen and councillors have all defected to APC. It leaves Kwankwaso vulnerable and weakened. We are strengthened,” he said.

He also disclosed that he personally engaged leaders of the Shekarau and Gwarzo camps during a recent political outreach in Kano.

Kaduna: Southern Kaduna ‘Back With APC’

Turning to Kaduna State, Yilwatda said the party had resolved grievances that previously cost it votes, particularly in Southern Kaduna.

“The entire Southern Kaduna that used to go against us – they have all returned to APC. What was their grievance? Their grievance was with former Governor Nasir El-Rufai. El-Rufai is now in ADC. So the entire structure of Southern Kaduna is with us,” he said.

He also dismissed concerns over APC’s strength in Zaria, El-Rufai’s political base, insisting that only a few supporters followed the former governor out of the party.

“We had an election in Zaria. He campaigned; he was on top of vehicles; he was everywhere campaigning. But how many people moved out of APC from there? Numbers are very few. Zaria is intact. Kaduna is intact. We are about to have more votes in Kaduna than before,” he added.

Sokoto: APC Claims Majority Structures

On Sokoto State, Yilwatda said the APC controls three of the four major political blocs in the state and remains confident of success.

“The governor’s structure is intact. We have three out of four,” he said.

2027 Outlook

Across the three states, the APC chairman projected confidence in the party’s ability to outperform its 2023 showing, citing defections from opposition parties, stronger internal unity, and expanded grassroots structures ahead of what is expected to be a keenly contested 2027 election.