Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged voters in Ekiti State to give President Bola Tinubu at least 90 per cent of their votes in the January 16, 2027 presidential election, while criticising opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar over his political influence in his home state.
Shettima made the remarks on Thursday, November 5, 2026, while representing Tinubu at an All Progressives Congress presidential campaign rally held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti.
The rally attracted APC leaders, elected officials, former governors and supporters from different parts of the state as the ruling party intensified its mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.
In his address, Shettima conveyed Tinubu's appreciation to Ekiti residents for their support during the 2023 presidential election and called for an even stronger mandate in the next contest.
He said the President believed his administration had delivered on some of the promises made to Nigerians during the previous election and deserved another opportunity to consolidate its achievements.
According to the Vice President, the President's second-term ambition was driven by the need to continue ongoing development programmes and advance the administration's plans for the country.
Shettima also praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji for what he described as his ability to bring political actors together following the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
He specifically commended the governor for securing the support of politicians who had previously contested against him, describing the development as an indication of growing political cooperation within the state.
The Vice President subsequently turned his attention to Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, questioning the former Vice President's level of political support in Adamawa State.
Shettima argued that several influential politicians who had governed Adamawa since 1999 were not publicly aligned with Atiku's presidential ambition.
He mentioned former governors Boni Haruna, Bala Ngilari, Murtala Nyako and Jibrilla Bindow, as well as incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, while questioning whether their political positions strengthened Atiku's chances of securing support beyond his home state.
The Vice President used the argument to challenge Atiku's political influence and question the opposition candidate's ability to attract support across the country.
His comments formed part of the APC's broader campaign message, which has focused on presenting Tinubu's record in office while questioning the opposition's capacity to offer an alternative direction for Nigeria.
Shettima also highlighted federal infrastructure projects in Ekiti, including the completed Ado-Ekiti–Ikere–Akure Road and other road reconstruction projects for which contracts have reportedly been awarded.
He further mentioned the establishment of a federal university at Iyin-Ekiti and the student loan programme as examples of the administration's interventions in the state.
The Vice President said the projects and other federal appointments involving Ekiti indigenes demonstrated the administration's attention to the state.
Governor Oyebanji, who addressed the gathering, expressed confidence that Ekiti would deliver a strong vote for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
He said the state would seek to double the support recorded by the APC during the June governorship election, pointing to the cooperation among political leaders as a factor that could strengthen the party's mobilisation.
Oyebanji also argued that the Federal Government had not disappointed Ekiti residents, citing infrastructure projects and other interventions as reasons for continued support.
The governor was joined by former Ekiti governors Kayode Fayemi, Ayodele Fayose and Niyi Adebayo, alongside other political leaders who attended the rally.
Former Zamfara State Governor and Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Yari, also addressed the gathering, assuring the President of support from northern political leaders.
Yari appealed to Ekiti voters to deliver at least 900,000 votes for Tinubu, expressing confidence that the political cooperation being promoted by Oyebanji would help the party achieve its target.
Other dignitaries at the event included Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
The rally highlights the growing importance of state-level political mobilisation as parties prepare for the 2027 presidential contest.
While the APC is seeking to build on its electoral performance in Ekiti and other states, opposition parties are expected to continue presenting their own arguments on governance, economic conditions and national development.
The demand for 90 per cent of Ekiti's votes therefore represents the ruling party's campaign target, while the eventual outcome will depend on voters' decisions during the January 2027 election.