‘Ba Ma Yi’ Chants: Can APC Survive Growing Northern Discontent Ahead Of 2027?

The Hausa expression “Ba ma yi,” commonly understood as “we don’t want it” or “we reject it,” has featured in separate protests and political gatherings in northern Nigeria in 2026, becoming particularly prominent in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.

One of the earlier reported occurrences was in Diko, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where residents, including youths, women, elders and masquerades, staged a protest on June 23, 2026, against the allocation of about 500 hectares of farmland to Abuja Steel Mills Limited for a proposed solar farm and industrial park.

The demonstrators chanted “Ba ma yi, Ba ma so” as they marched through the community, alleging that the land had been allocated without adequate consultation or their consent.

However, the chant has taken on a more explicitly-political dimension in Kaduna State in October, when youths chanted “Ba ma yi” during a visit by Senator Abdulaziz Yari, the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The crowd gathered around a vehicle during Yari’s visit to the Rigachikun area of Kaduna. The incident attracted attention amid his efforts to mobilise northern political and religious leaders behind Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

Yari had previously urged Northerners to support the President, arguing for the continuation of the eight-year presidential tenure before power returned to the North in 2031.

The slogan was used again ahead of Tinubu’s campaign flag-off in Kaduna on October 24. On October 23, Bital videos online widely showed some youths chanting “Ba ma yi” as APC-branded vehicles carrying images of the President and Vice-President Kashim Shettima passed by.

At the campaign rally at Ranchers Bees Stadium on October 24, a section of the crowd responded with the chant as Tinubu addressed the gathering.

Daily Trust, as cited in subsequent reports, heard some attendees attribute their dissatisfaction to insecurity and the government’s economic policies.

However, the rally also attracted thousands of APC supporters according to pictures and footage from the scene.

The “Ba Ma Yi” rejection chant also echoed in Katsina State on Wednesday where residents of Malumfashi were seen chanting during Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s visit.

The incident occurred as Radda was en route to Funtua for the flag-off of the Tinubu–Dikko 2027 campaign in the Funtua Senatorial Zone.

LEADERSHIP recalls that violence disrupted activities ahead of the campaign flag-off, leaving several All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters injured and their vehicles damaged.
Despite the reported attacks, Radda proceeded with the planned campaign flag-off. Party sources told Reporters that the violence stemmed from internal differences within the APC and expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved.

Social Media Reactions
The “Ba Ma Yi” chants in northern Nigeria have also generated reactions on social media.
Reacting to the development, a user identified as Sarkin Ijebu called on Nigerians to defend their votes during the next election, arguing that mass participation could determine the outcome.
“Again if we come out en masse and defend our vote he will have no path to victory. Nigerians let’s do this for our children yet unborn,” he wrote.

Another user, Aliyu Usman, expressed doubt about the level of support President Bola Tinubu could attract in Kaduna, writing, “Tinubu no go see 100k for Kaduna.”

North South Bridge also criticised the President’s response to complaints about hunger, referencing the removal of the petrol subsidy.

“Wai Tinubu dey blame opposition for hunger. You removed subsidy with your own hands sir. Ba ma yi,” the user wrote.

Similarly, Nasir Abdulaziz described the administration as a failure, declaring, “The end of a failed government.”

Another commenter, Abdulhamid Wada, argued that online reactions alone would not determine the outcome of the election, writing, “It’s about social media! It’s about election Day, where commitment works.”

Sani Saminu also expressed his opposition to the administration, writing, “Sai sun tafi In Sha Allah,” a Hausa expression meaning, in this context, that they should leave, God willing.

For Murtala Shamba, the cost of petrol provided a more personal illustration of his dissatisfaction. He cited a petrol price of ₦1,405 per litre at an NNPC station and said ₦20,000 bought him about 14 litres.

Explaining the impact on his travel plans, he wrote, “Just because I want to go to Idoma descendants function in Wuye in Amac FCT from Gwagwalada that is not up to 120 km to and fro. This same amount could take me from Abuja to Agege in Lagos during Buhari’s reign.”

I’mHe concluded that the experience had influenced his voting decision, adding, “That is enough campaign jingles for me to know who I should not vote.”

Offering his perspective on the growing chants, Kachalla Suraj, a civil servant based in Kaduna while in an interview with LEADERSHIP newspaper, said Northerners were generally outspoken in expressing support for or opposition to political leaders, arguing that the chants reflected dissatisfaction with the government’s economic policies.

According to him, the chanting of “Ba ma yi” at political gatherings stemmed from the belief among some residents that government policies were responsible for their current economic difficulties.

“The chanting of the masses in places of political gathering of ‘Ba ma yi’ stems from their beliefs that their current economic predicaments are a result of the government policies, thus leading them to be politically hostile towards the party in power,” Suraj said.

He argued that the chant was not the only expression of dissatisfaction emerging from the North, pointing to the “Tinubu Must Go” movement as another example of opposition to the administration and its policies.

Asked whether the chant represented the broader mood in the region, Suraj said he believed it reflected the views of a significant proportion of Northerners.

“So to some extent, yes, the ‘Ba ma yi’ chants is the majority voice of the North,” he said.

Suraj also suggested that the political landscape in the North could be shifting, citing the appeal of opposition figures and promises concerning petrol subsidy policy.

“The North recently aligned slightly with the ADC presidential candidate because of his promise to restore the fuel subsidy, but the APC still has strong fellowship,” he said.

He added that the eventual outcome of the 2027 elections would depend on several factors, including economic conditions and the ability of political parties to mobilise support.

“So when it comes to the general elections, a lot of things might come into play, but for now the majority of the North are with Atiku Abubakar.
“But with grappling poverty, money could play a huge role on who they will really vote come January,” he said.

‘Ba Ma Yi’ Chants: Why APC Northern Governors Are Facing Public Anger Ahead Of 2027

The chant “Ba ma yi,” a Hausa expression commonly understood in this context as “we don’t want it” or “we reject it,” has featured in several public gatherings in northern Nigeria, drawing attention to growing expressions of dissatisfaction with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The chants have been reported in different circumstances, including a dispute over land allocation in Niger State and political gatherings in Kaduna and Katsina states. While the incidents have generated debate about the level of support for President Bola Tinubu and APC governors in the North, opinions remain divided over whether the chants represent the views of the wider electorate.

For some observers, the chants reflect frustration over economic hardship, insecurity and government policies. Others argue that public expressions of anger at political gatherings cannot be taken as a reliable measure of voting intentions, particularly in an election where opposition votes could be split among several candidates.

From Niger To Kaduna And Katsina: Where The Chants Were Heard
In Niger State, residents of Diko in Gurara Local Government Area reportedly protested in June 2026 against the allocation of about 500 hectares of farmland to Abuja Steel Mills Limited for a proposed solar farm and industrial park.

During the protest, residents reportedly chanted “Ba ma yi, ba ma so,” expressing opposition to the proposed development. The incident centred on land use, livelihoods and concerns over the allocation process, rather than an explicitly declared rejection of the APC ahead of the elections.

In Kaduna State, the chant was reported during political gatherings in October, including an appearance by Abdulaziz Yari, the APC’s presidential campaign director-general, in Rigachikun. The phrase was also reportedly heard from a section of the crowd during President Tinubu’s campaign flag-off at Ranchers Bees Stadium on October 24.

The reported chants came amid public complaints about insecurity and economic hardship.

However, the presence of the chants in a section of a crowd does not establish that the entire gathering, or Kaduna State as a whole, rejected the President.

In Katsina State, residents of Malumfashi were reported to have chanted “Bamayi” during Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s visit on October 28, as he travelled to Funtua for the Tinubu–Dikko 2027 campaign flag-off in Funtua Senatorial Zone.

The same period also witnessed reports of violence involving APC supporters travelling through Malumfashi to attend the campaign event. Daily Trust reported that several supporters were injured and vehicles damaged in an attack allegedly carried out by suspected political thugs. One of the victims, Abubakar Lawal, said their vehicles were pelted with stones and other objects, leaving windows smashed and passengers assaulted.

The identities of the attackers and their motives were not independently established in the reports. Party sources reportedly attributed the incident to internal APC disagreements, while victims called for stronger security and action against those responsible.

The reported violence and chants are separate incidents and should not be treated as proof that the governor personally faced an attack.

Bello Umar Palladan, from Sokoto State, cautioned against interpreting the chants as a definitive expression of the political of the entire North.

He argued that even if the chants persuade some voters to reject the APC, the ruling party could still benefit if opposition votes are divided among multiple candidates.

“Some people will surely avoid voting APC, but APC might still get the victory because the votes are going to be shared unnecessarily.

“Once APC got 35 per cent of Nigerians’ votes and the other parties shared 64 per cent, while one per cent will be invalid, then I don’t think there is any party that will get 30 per cent,” he said.

Palladan also questioned whether public expressions of opposition would necessarily translate into votes against Tinubu on election day.

Charles Yakubu, from Kaduna State, argued that the significance of the chants lies not only in the number of people participating but also in the decision to express opposition at a political gathering.

However, he questioned why people who oppose a candidate would attend that candidate’s campaign to make their position known.

“If I don’t prefer a particular candidate, why do I bother myself going to his campaign? Why not just stay at home and be busy with all other things.
“You should send a message to the particular candidate who faces the kind of chants from those standing in the background. It’s one thing to have a preferred candidate and not want you; it’s another thing to be bold enough to bring it to your face and tell you, ‘I don’t want you.’ I could simply wait for the polls to cast my vote, but having to show up at your campaign to tell you, ‘I don’t want you,’ sends a strong message to the APC and President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

Explaining the meaning of the chant, Yakubu said, “Ba ma yi” was not necessarily a word-for-word translation of “we don’t want you,” but conveyed a similar message in the political context.

“It helps the person understand: ‘Ba ma yi’ means we don’t have anything to do with you. We are not with you in this particular election. We don’t want you,” he said.

Yakubu attributed the chants largely to the economic difficulties facing Nigerians and what he described as a disconnect between the lifestyle of political leaders and the hardship citizens are being asked to endure.

“A father should not be eating chicken while telling the children that the family is poor and cannot afford a decent meal,” he said.
“I’m not saying that the President of the country should be seen eating garri with us, but he cannot be flaunting luxury for himself, his APC people and his family members, living an extravagant life while telling Nigerians to continue to endure the suffering.
“I strongly believe that the North will still vote for Peter Obi because it is mere propaganda to say that the man is not known in the North,” he said.

Aliyu Abubakar, from Adamawa State, interpreted the chants as a direct expression of opposition to Tinubu’s administration, particularly among Nigerians struggling with rising living costs.

“It is, in my own opinion, an outright rejection of Tinubu’s government, which is born out of the harsh economic policies meted out to poor Nigerians.
“Especially the removal of fuel subsidy, the increase in the prices of commodities and the increase in insecurity, which cannot be divorced from the poverty in the country,” he said.

Abubakar was particularly pessimistic about the APC’s prospects in the North.
“I doubt if APC can win one single state in the North without rigging the election result.
“The contest of the 2027 election, as far as poor Nigerians are concerned, is between Atiku of ADC and Obi of NDC. At best, Tinubu will clinch a distant third. Northerners are not smiling,” he said.

Kobi Mukhtar, from Bauchi State, also rejected the idea that the chants necessarily represent the political position of the entire North.

“It doesn’t represent the voices of the North, but the cries of Nigerians over the harsh economic policies of Tinubu’s administration,” he said.