APC Rally in Yobe Turns Awkward as Crowd Chants “Sai Atiku” Before Governor
Damaturu/Ngurue, Yobe State—September 24, 2026—What was meant to be a show of strength for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State took an unexpected turn when a section of the crowd at a party gathering chanted “Sai Atiku” in support of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, instead of responding with the expected pro-Tinubu slogan.
A video circulating widely on social media, shared by the account @ADCVanguard_, shows the moment a speaker called out “Nigeria!” and the crowd answered with loud, repeated chants of “Sai Atiku!”
The incident reportedly occurred in the presence of Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni and members of the APC campaign council.
The footage captures a large outdoor gathering under tents and stage structures, with APC flags and banners visible as supporters raised their hands and voices.
Organizers had anticipated a warm homecoming-style reception for the ruling party in a state long considered an APC stronghold. Instead, the spontaneous response has become a talking point across Nigerian social media.
Not an Isolated Incident
This is not the first time APC events in the North-West and North-East have been disrupted by pro-Atiku chants. Similar scenes played out earlier this month in Zamfara State during a solidarity walk and rally attended by Governor Dauda Lawal and former Governor Abdul’aziz Yari, the Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
In those earlier videos, crowds also responded “Sai Atiku” when prompted with “Nigeria!”
Atiku Abubakar is positioning himself for another presidential bid under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform.
His supporters have seized on these moments as evidence of residual grassroots popularity, particularly in parts of the North where economic pressures and dissatisfaction with the current administration remain high.
Political Context and Reactions
Yobe State has historically delivered strong support for the APC. Governor Mai Mala Buni, a key figure in the party’s national structure, was present as the chants rang out.
Opposition voices and ADC-aligned accounts have described the episode as a public humiliation that “politics can humble anybody,” while APC loyalists have largely remained silent or dismissed the viral clips as selective or exaggerated.
The timing is sensitive. With the 2027 general elections approaching, both the ruling party and opposition camps are intensifying grassroots mobilization.
The APC has been holding rallies and receiving defectors across the North, while Atiku’s camp continues to highlight discontent over living costs, insecurity, and governance performance.
What the Video Shows
In the circulating clip, the crowd is dense and energetic. People in traditional attire and party colours fill the space in front of a raised platform.
When the call-and-response begins, the volume of “Sai Atiku” responses is clearly audible above other noise. Hands go up, and the chant continues for several seconds as officials look on.
Such moments, while not necessarily reflective of overall voting intentions, carry symbolic weight in Nigeria’s highly charged political environment.
They feed into broader narratives about voter restlessness and the challenges the APC faces in converting incumbency into guaranteed loyalty.
As more videos from the Yobe event surface, political analysts will be watching whether this becomes a pattern at future APC gatherings or remains an isolated embarrassment.
For now, the chants of “Sai Atiku” in an APC stronghold have given the opposition a ready-made social media win and left the ruling party with an awkward public image to manage.
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