By Saidu Abubakar
It happened today — October 24, 2026. It was the flag-off of APC 2027 campaign in Kaduna Township Stadium (Ranchers Bees Stadium), renovated to standard by the Kaduna State Government.
By APC’s own standard, it was successful:
- Turnout: Stadium is 8,000-capacity, filled and overflow outside. Supporters in branded outfits, governors from 7 Northwest states, Shettima, Yari (DG campaign), Yilwatda (APC Chairman), Hadiza Balarabe LOC all there.
- Optics: Freshly repainted stadium, heavy security — police, DSS, military, EOD, KASTLEA, NSCDC even guarding posters at night. Heavy vehicles banned midnight – 8pm to ease movement. President landed amid heavy security, commissioned projects after.
- Strategic win: Kaduna voted Atiku in 2023, and now it’s home to Atiku’s ADC and El-Rufai who is ADC Deputy Campaign DG. So starting there is: “we take battleground”.
But by opposition/social media standard, not that deep:
- Atiku’s attack today: “Your posters enjoy protection Nigerians can only dream of” — mocking that billboards have guards while villages don’t.
- Labour/ADC channels claim crowd was rented, transport unions forced, and 8k is small for presidential flag-off compared to Lagos/Kano rallies.
- Economic anger still loud — Bola eyeglasses comment by First Lady Remi also trended negative.
Therefore: APC says massive success, crowd energized, good start to 12-state tour. Observers say it was organized and safe, but not a mammoth Lagos-type crowd — more a controlled 8k stadium launch to set tone before Port Harcourt Nov 7, Jos Nov 14, Ibadan Nov 21.
The “Ba ma yi” syndrome
Yes — “Ba ma yi”…”Ba Mayi”… was all over town today.
In Hausa: “Ba mu yi” literarily means “We don’t want/we won’t support you/we no gree”.
Demonstrable escalation of the syndrome:
- Video 1 (outside stadium): As convoy arrived at Ranchers Bees Stadium, crowd chanted loud: “BAMAYI! BAMAYI!” — posted by Imran Wakili, trending on X since 12pm.
- Video 2 (inside stadium): Daily Trust reported when Tinubu shouted “Nigeria!” some sections answered “Ba ma yi” instead of “Sai Nigeria”.
- Target not only Tinubu: Youths also surrounded Senator Abdulaziz Yari (DG Tinubu 2027 campaign) in Kaduna city, chanting same “Ba Mayi” to his face.
Opposition ADC quickly grabbed it:
ADC PCC spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan said: “You can rent a crowd but you cannot rent acceptance. The message from Kaduna is loud and clear — Nigerians are saying Ba mu yi.” They allege crowd was paid N100k each and stadium still half-empty.
APC hasn’t denied the chants — they say it’s small group of opposition hirelings from El-Rufai’s camp, not real supporters inside.
Yes, “Ba Mayi” slogan dey ground, especially around Kawo, Tudun Wada, stadium road. But inside stadium official programm3 still went on with pro-Tinubu chants too — two crowds, two stories, one town.
