Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has instructed his supporters to vote for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at every level in the 2027 elections, according to a close ally.

The message

Hajiya Hafsat Baba, the ADC's national vice-chairman for the North-West, reportedly conveyed the message at a meeting in Kaduna that brought together various El-Rufai support groups. She said the directive had been verified by El-Rufai himself and covered federal, state and local elections. The meeting was held to unite the groups and coordinate their activities ahead of the polls.

'Base still strong'

Another ally, Ibrahim Hussaini, rejected claims that El-Rufai had lost his political base, saying his loyalists remain strong across Kaduna State and the wider North.

Background

El-Rufai served two terms as governor of Kaduna from 2015 to 2023 as a member of the APC and was a key figure in President Bola Tinubu's 2023 campaign. He later fell out with the party and joined the opposition coalition that adopted the ADC, which has fielded former vice-president Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate. His relationship with his successor, Governor Uba Sani of the APC, has been tense. El-Rufai has also been involved in legal disputes in recent months and has appealed for a fair trial.

Why it matters

Kaduna is one of the most populous states in the North-West, a region with a large share of Nigeria's voters. The APC says it remains strong in the state, while the ADC hopes El-Rufai's support will help it make gains there.

Tension is rising in Sokoto State ahead of a planned campaign rally by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar accusing the Department of State Services (DSS) of plotting to disrupt it.

Atiku's allegation

In a statement on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, Atiku alleged that the leadership of the DSS was recruiting people to stage protests in Sokoto in order to create disorder. He claimed hired protesters were being gathered at an office on Koko Road and sent out in trucks to key locations in the city. He also said public facilities had been blocked and logistical support withheld to frustrate the ADC's campaign, and warned that security officials who help suppress political freedom would be held to account under the law. He said the rally would go ahead. The DSS had not responded publicly to the claims at the time of reporting.

Campaign office sealed

Separately, the Sokoto State Government sealed an ADC campaign office on Ahmadu Bello Way on Monday, 2 November. Commissioner for Land and Housing Nasiru Dantsoho said records showed the building, once used by the defunct Savannah Bank and previously by the PDP, still belonged to the bank, and that the state had written to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation to clarify its ownership. He said the premises were sealed after a disturbance involving party supporters and others, to prevent further trouble. A media aide to the ADC governorship candidate confirmed the closure.

Background

Sokoto is governed by the APC. Opposition parties have complained of attacks and obstacles to their campaigns in several states, and an ADC candidate's convoy was attacked in Sokoto in recent weeks. The APC and state governments have generally denied using state agencies against opponents.

What happens next

Security agencies are expected to be on alert as the ADC presses ahead with its rally.

Television presenter Rufai Oseni has responded sharply to Minister of Works Dave Umahi's recent comments about NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi.

What Umahi said

At an APC town hall in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Monday, 2 November 2026, Umahi reportedly questioned Obi's political relevance, described him as a 'nobody' and called himself the 'Lion of the South East'. He has also asked what makes Obi better than past South East leaders such as Sam Egwu and Anyim Pius Anyim, and has argued that the region should back President Bola Tinubu so that an Igbo candidate can later get eight years rather than four.

Oseni's response

Speaking on his breakfast television programme on Tuesday, 3 November, Oseni reportedly said self-given titles mean little without results. He said that before Umahi can compare himself with Obi, he should obtain a presidential nomination form, contest a general election and win at least six million votes, roughly the number Obi received in the 2023 presidential election.

Background

Umahi, a former two-term governor of Ebonyi State, is a leading APC figure in the South East and has campaigned hard for Tinubu's re-election. Obi, a former Anambra governor, came third in the 2023 presidential election as the Labour Party candidate and is now running on the NDC ticket with Rabiu Kwankwaso. The South East is seen as an important battleground in 2027, and four governors from the zone recently declared support for Tinubu.

How people reacted

Obi's supporters cheered Oseni's comments, while APC supporters said Umahi's record as governor and minister speaks for itself.

The campaign of African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar says President Bola Tinubu's recent Umrah in Saudi Arabia will not guarantee him a second term.

What was said

Speaking on a television politics programme on Monday night, 2 November 2026, Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication for the ADC presidential campaign council, reportedly said political mandates cannot be won through religious display. He argued that pilgrimage should be a personal matter, not something publicised as a national event by political supporters, and said Nigerians would make their choice in 2027 based on the cost of living rather than prayers abroad. Asked whether Atiku would have joined Tinubu if invited, he said the former vice-president had supported Tinubu's earlier trips to Mecca. He also claimed Atiku was in a strong position in the North.

The President's side

Tinubu left Abuja for Makkah on 29 October. He described the trip as a chance to seek divine guidance, wisdom and resilience, and said that before the 2023 election he had performed Umrah and promised to return to give thanks if his prayers were answered. During the visit he was granted the rare privilege of entering the Kaaba, where he said he prayed for peace, unity and prosperity for Nigeria. The Presidency has rejected claims that the trip was for medical reasons.

Background

The trip has drawn comment across the political spectrum. Former senator Dino Melaye challenged Tinubu to a Quran recitation contest, while Oyo governor Seyi Makinde asked the Presidency to explain the purpose of the journey. APC supporters have welcomed the visit and the honour extended by the Saudi leadership.