By Tom Garba
As political parties begin positioning for the 2027 presidential election, Adamawa State is shaping up to be a major battleground between former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu, with grassroots mobilisation expected to play a decisive role.
Atiku, who hails from Adamawa and is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, enjoys considerable political recognition in his home state. However, the All Progressives Congress is seeking to challenge that advantage through a stronger grassroots network, with the State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Agenda, Hon. Salihu Mohammed, popularly known as Abba Girei, emerging as one of its key mobilisers.
Girei, a businessman and former member of the House of Representatives for Yola South, Yola North and Girei Federal Constituency, is expected to draw on his political experience and established local connections to strengthen the APC’s electoral prospects across the state.
Although his departure from the House of Representatives altered the political dynamics of his former constituency, supporters maintain that his influence remains significant, citing his previous political activities, empowerment initiatives and relationships with community stakeholders.
The former federal lawmaker’s current strategy is reportedly focused on building a ward-by-ward mobilisation network across Adamawa’s 226 wards, with party loyalists expected to engage voters at polling-unit level, persuade undecided residents and strengthen support for the APC.
The approach reflects the importance of grassroots organisation in Adamawa politics, where local relationships, party structures and the ability to mobilise voters can significantly influence electoral outcomes.
Girei’s experience in Yola South, Yola North and Girei, which constitute his former federal constituency, could also prove valuable to the APC as it seeks to consolidate support in the Adamawa Central Senatorial District and extend its reach to other parts of the state.
Three factors could shape his effectiveness in the mobilisation drive: his political visibility, his ability to coordinate party stakeholders and the loyalty of supporters built through years of political engagement.
His experience as a former federal lawmaker gives him familiarity with local political networks, while his role as Renewed Hope Agenda coordinator places him in a position to promote Tinubu’s re-election campaign and coordinate support for the President among party members and other stakeholders.
However, translating these advantages into votes will depend on the APC’s ability to sustain its grassroots structures, address voters’ concerns and persuade residents to support its candidate at the polls.
For the ruling party, the broader objective is to weaken Atiku’s traditional advantage in Adamawa and demonstrate that the former vice-president’s political base is open to competition.
While Atiku’s connection to the state remains a significant factor in the contest, the APC believes that an effective ward and polling-unit network could make the difference in a race where both candidates are expected to pursue an aggressive mobilisation strategy.
Whether Girei can deliver the anticipated electoral gains remains to be seen. His success will depend not only on the strength of his political network but also on the APC’s overall campaign performance and the response of Adamawa voters to the competing candidates.
For now, the battle lines are being drawn, with the APC banking on grassroots organisation to challenge Atiku’s home advantage ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Tom Garba is a political analyst and writes from Yola.
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