Tensions flared in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Saturday, October 3, 2026, when a high-powered delegation led by Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, encountered strong resistance from local youths during a political outreach.
The incident occurred outside the residence of prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Yusuf Sambo Rigachikun in Rigachikun. Senator Yari and his campaign team had visited the area to engage key stakeholders and appeal to Northern voters to unite in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, framing the continuity of the administration as vital for national stability and economic recovery.
However, as the campaign convoy attempted to depart the venue, a large crowd of local youths gathered outside the premises, swarming the vehicles. The crowd erupted into loud rejection chants of “Ba ma yi!” a Hausa phrase meaning “We are not interested” or “We reject it”, expressing dissatisfaction with current economic conditions and political leadership.
Security personnel attached to the delegation moved swiftly to establish a perimeter, preventing agitated protesters from blocking the convoy’s exit. While the delegation departed the venue without physical injuries reported, the confrontation underscored growing public frustration in parts of the region.
Reacting to the development, APC Campaign Council Spokesperson, Alhaji Garba Tanko, dismissed the hostility as an isolated event orchestrated by political opponents attempting to disrupt party unity.
”What transpired in Rigachikun does not reflect the broader sentiment of Kaduna State or the North,” Tanko stated during a briefing in Kaduna. “Senator Yari’s mission is built on open dialogue, national unity, and long-term development. While we respect the rights of citizens to express their views, political grievances should be channeled constructively through the ballot box rather than organised disruptions.”
In contrast, opposition youth advocate and spokesperson for the Kaduna Coalition of Concerned Youth, Comrade Salihu Ibrahim, asserted that the reaction was a spontaneous manifestation of public discontent.
”The reception given to the campaign council in Rigachikun is a direct message to political leaders,” Ibrahim said. “Our communities are feeling the burden of economic hardship and insecurity. Appeals for national unity cannot substitute for visible improvements in the daily lives of citizens.”
The encounter highlights the political friction surrounding early 2027 re-election campaigning across key Northern battlegrounds, as party strategists work to maintain regional support amid shifting public sentiment.
