The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has asked Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, to explain a viral video in which he allegedly directed security operatives to arrest and detain anyone found expressing the slogan, “Tinubu Must Go.”

The demand followed the circulation of the video on social media, which the ADC campaign council said appeared to contradict an earlier denial by the governor over reports that people wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts had been arrested in Borno State.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Director of Strategic Communications, Phrank Shaibu, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council said Zulum should clarify the contents of the latest video and reconcile them with his previous position.

The council said Nigerians deserved a clear explanation on whether citizens could be arrested simply for expressing opposition to President Bola Tinubu.

“A viral video now circulating, in which Governor Babagana Zulum speaks in Hausa and orders the arrest and detention of anyone caught expressing ‘Tinubu Must Go,’ raises grave questions about his respect for citizens’ democratic rights,” the statement said.

“He must explain the fresh video and reconcile its contents with that denial.

Nigerians deserve clarity, not contradictory messages about whether peaceful critics will be arrested.”

The ADC PCC argued that peaceful political expression was part of democratic participation, insisting that the use of a political slogan, wearing a T-shirt or calling for a president to leave office did not, by itself, amount to a criminal offence.

“No governor has the authority to criminalise peaceful political opinion. A slogan, a T-shirt or a call for a president to leave office is not, by itself, a crime,” the council said.

It also cautioned against the use of allegations of unrelated offences as a means of suppressing political dissent.

According to Shaibu, where authorities have evidence that an individual committed a separate offence, such a matter should be handled through the courts and established due process.

“If the authorities have credible evidence of a separate offence, they should present it in court and allow due process to take its course.

They must not use other allegations as a cover to punish citizens for their political views,” he said.

The ADC campaign council called on Zulum to withdraw any directive that could be interpreted as targeting peaceful protesters and to publicly assure residents that no individual would be arrested solely for expressing opposition to the President.

“We call on Gov Zulum to withdraw any directive targeting peaceful protesters and to guarantee that no one will be arrested solely for expressing opposition to President Tinubu,” the statement said.

The controversy comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties and groups increasingly using rallies, social media campaigns, slogans and other forms of public mobilisation to criticise the Tinubu administration.

The ADC PCC maintained that political disagreements should be addressed through democratic engagement rather than threats of arrest or detention.

“A government confident in its record answers criticism with evidence and performance—not threats of arrest and detention,” Shaibu said.

The council’s demand has renewed attention on the handling of political expression and opposition activities in Borno State, as parties and political groups begin preparations for the 2027 elections.

The governor’s clarification, if issued, is expected to provide further context to the viral video and the circumstances surrounding the reported arrests of individuals associated with the “Tinubu Must Go” slogan.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has led political leaders and stakeholders from the North-Central zone in launching a regional mobilisation movement for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 presidential election.

The North-Central Grassroots Mobilisation Movement for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 was launched during an inaugural meeting held at Akume’s office in Abuja on Friday.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the movement’s National Coordinator, Sonny Echono.

Speaking at the meeting, Akume said the movement would focus on mobilising widespread support and ensuring a strong voter turnout for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket across the six states of the North-Central region.

“The principal objective of this movement is to canvass support and mobilise a massive turnout for Mr President in the 2027 election,” the SGF said.

Akume commended Echono for initiating the platform and bringing political leaders and other stakeholders together under the movement.

He said the North-Central region was targeting the highest regional vote total for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, described the initiative as timely, arguing that the political standing of the North-Central had improved significantly compared with the situation ahead of the 2023 general election.

Sule pointed to the emergence of Akume as SGF, the presence of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress and other key political appointees from the region as evidence of its increased political influence.

He expressed confidence that the North-Central would record a strong performance for Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

Also speaking, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the movement as the first of its kind and commended Echono for bringing stakeholders together.

Idris assured members of the movement that the necessary structures would be provided to support its activities ahead of the 2027 general election.

Echono said the initiative was designed to coordinate political leaders and grassroots stakeholders across Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states.

He said the movement’s focus had shifted from merely seeking victory for Tinubu in the North-Central to ensuring that the region records a significant number of votes for the President in 2027.

“The conversation is no longer simply about whether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will win the North-Central, but about the region positioning itself to deliver the highest number of votes to the President in the 2027 election,” Echono said.

He commended Akume, members of the North-Central Governors’ Forum and other stakeholders for their support for the Tinubu administration.

The mobilisation comes as political activities and preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political actors and support groups beginning to organise structures across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved the constitution of the Labour Party 2027 Governorship Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general election.

The campaign structure covers the three senatorial zones and the various state constituencies across Abia State.

The constitution of the council was announced in a statement on Friday by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma.

According to Ekeoma, Otti will serve as chairman of the campaign council, while his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu, will be the vice-chairman.

“His Excellency, the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex C. Otti, OFR, has approved the constitution of the Abia State Labour Party Governorship Campaign Council for the 2027 election,” the statement said.

Agwu U. Agwu was appointed Director-General of the council, while Dr Eric Egwuibe will serve as Director of Finance.

Dr Chibuzor Obiesili was named Director of Strategy and Planning, with Kelechi Nwaiwu, SAN, appointed Director of Legal.

Other principal appointments include Onyebuchi Ememanka as Director of Publicity and Dr Christian Anokwuru as Director of Special Duties.

AIG Arungwa Nwazue (retd.) will head the Security Directorate.

The campaign council also created three zonal coordination positions covering Abia Central, Abia North and Abia South.

Professor Udochukwu Ogbonna will coordinate Abia Central, Chief Emeka Charles Kalu will oversee Abia North, while Chimaobi Ebisike will coordinate Abia South.

At the constituency level, the council appointed coordinators to oversee campaign activities across the state’s constituencies.

In Ikwuano, Mr Innocent Eleogu was appointed coordinator, while Dr Obioma Orji will coordinate Isiala Ngwa North and Hon.

Dannie Ubani will oversee Isiala Ngwa South.

Mr Emmanuel Maduforo Ufomba was appointed for Osisioma North, while Mr Innocent Enyinnaya Anyanwu will coordinate Osisioma South.

For Umuahia, Col. Emeka Chilaka (retd.) will coordinate Umuahia Central, Chief Okey Onyemuwa will oversee Umuahia East, Dr Aham Uko will coordinate Umuahia North and Jerry Uzosike will handle Umuahia South.

In Bende, Mr Ikerionwu Okarimie will coordinate Bende South, while Mr Silas Eke will oversee Bende North.

Mr Emmanuel Okoronkwo was appointed coordinator for Isuikwuato, while Mandela Obasi and Mr Kalu Ukwu Uduma will coordinate Ohafia North and Ohafia South respectively.

Mr Kingsley C. Uchechukwu will coordinate Umunneochi.

In the Aba axis, Chief Shaka Dimgba Obasi was appointed for Aba Central, Mr George Ezeikpe Okeiyi for Aba North and Mr Chidi Onyendi for Aba South.

Other constituency coordinators are Mr Ndubisi Obioha Christopher for Obingwa East, Mr Jap Nnamdi Onwunali for Obingwa West, Dr Temple Nwosu for Ugwunagbo, Paul Taribo for Ukwa East, Ralph Egbu for Ukwa West and Chief Okezie Azuma for Arochukwu.

The statement said the campaign council was designed to connect the state leadership with the three senatorial zones and individual state constituencies to ensure coordination of the party’s campaign activities ahead of the 2027 election.

The inauguration of the campaign council is scheduled for Monday, October 5, 2026, at 12 noon at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia.

Members of the council were directed to be seated before the governor’s arrival for the inauguration.