In Yola, Adamawa State, on Monday, 29 June 2026, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and senatorial aspirant for Adamawa Central, Aliyu Abbati, declared confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would secure a strong electoral performance in Adamawa State during the 2027 presidential election, citing federal appointments and development initiatives as key factors shaping voter sentiment.
Aliyu Abbati, who is also an agricultural scientist and policy strategist, made the remarks while speaking with journalists, arguing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had strengthened political goodwill in the state through strategic appointments of indigenes into key federal positions.
He stated that the appointment of Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser and other prominent Adamawa indigenes into federal roles had significantly shifted political dynamics in the state, traditionally considered a stronghold of opposition figure Atiku Abubakar.
“Adamawa State has never had it so good as under President Tinubu. We occupy top positions. What else do we need again for us to give the president 99.9 per cent of our votes?” Aliyu Abbati said.
Aliyu Abbati also referenced the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development and the inclusion of Adamawa indigenes in federal cabinet positions as evidence of what he described as inclusive governance under the Tinubu administration.
He argued that such initiatives could stimulate rural economic activity, particularly in agriculture and livestock production, which he said have the potential to rival oil revenue in terms of long-term wealth creation.
According to Aliyu Abbati, “As an economist and policy strategist on agriculture, I know the wealth creation that the ministry can generate for Adamawa State can be more than that of oil-producing states.”
He further maintained that improved rural economic empowerment could indirectly contribute to security improvements by reducing youth vulnerability to criminal recruitment networks.
The APC chieftain also called for greater community participation in tackling insecurity, suggesting a review of current security strategies and advocating stronger collaboration between traditional institutions, local government authorities and residents.
In a more controversial remark, Aliyu Abbati proposed community-based defence structures, stating that rural communities should be supported to defend themselves under regulated frameworks, a position that has previously sparked debate among security experts and civil society organisations.
Political observers note that Adamawa State remains a key battleground in Nigeria’s 2027 elections, given its symbolic significance as the home state of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, now a leading opposition figure under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
While supporters of the ruling APC view federal appointments and infrastructure initiatives as evidence of political progress, opposition voices have consistently argued that governance outcomes, rather than patronage politics, will ultimately determine voter behaviour.
Aliyu Abbati insisted that the Tinubu administration remains “one of the best in recent times,” urging Nigerians to support continuity for sustained development and policy consolidation.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
