2027: North-central state governors endorse Tinubu for re-election

The six All Progressives Congress (APC) governors in the North-central region have endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for re-election in 2027.

The endorsement was announced on Saturday at a rally in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, attended by APC leaders and political stakeholders from the region.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, who is also the grand patron of the North Central Grassroots Mobilisation Network for Tinubu/Shettima 2027, proposed Mr Tinubu as the region’s sole presidential candidate for the election.

“By the authority of this great congregation, I, Senator George Akume, hereby propose that the people of the North-Central States meeting here have resolved that, come 2027, our sole candidate is His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. There is no other candidate,” he said.

The North-Central region comprises Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states, along with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). APC governors rule all of them.

Mr Akume urged political stakeholders to respect the power-rotation arrangement between northern and southern Nigeria, arguing that Mr Tinubu should be allowed to complete an eight-year tenure.

He said the arrangement was based on an understanding political leaders reached n Kaduna in 1999 and was meant to promote political balance between the two regions.

Sule backs Tinubu’s re-election

In his remarks, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, who chairs the North-central Governors’ Forum, seconded Mr Akume’s proposal on behalf of the APC governors in the region.

Mr Sule said the governors supported Mr Tinubu’s re-election, citing improvements in oil production, foreign reserves, capitalisation, and infrastructure development under the administration.

“I hereby move for the re-election of Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Kashim Shettima for the second tenure,” he said.

He also cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and major infrastructure projects as reasons for supporting the president’s return to office.

The statement announcing the endorsement did not provide individual voting figures or details of a formal resolution signed by the governors.

Akume defends Tinubu’s policies

Mr Akume defended the Tinubu administration’s policies, including removing the petrol subsidy, increasing allocations to state and local governments, and investing in infrastructure and education.

He described the subsidy removal as a decision that required political courage, warning against campaign promises to reverse it without considering the economic implications.

He also cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the proposed Badagry-Sokoto Highway as infrastructure projects that, he said, could improve connectivity and create economic opportunities.

On education, he highlighted plans to establish additional universities and introduce student loans, saying the initiatives were intended to widen access to tertiary education.

The claims about the administration’s achievements were presented by Mr Akume and Mr Sule as arguments for Mr Tinubu’s re-election.

APC chairman, First Lady seek support

The APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, also called on residents of the North-central region to support Mr Tinubu and the party in the 2027 elections.

According to the statement, Mr Yilwatda said the president had done more for the region than previous administrations.

He urged party members to sustain their support for the APC at national and grassroots levels.

The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, conveyed her husband’s goodwill message to the region, highlighting his administration’s stated commitment to national security, unity and economic prosperity.

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She referred to the president’s 1 October Independence Day address, titled From Reforms to Prosperity, saying the administration’s reform agenda was intended to lay the foundation for improved economic conditions.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who is secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council for Mr Tinubu’s re-election bid, also reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to mobilising support for the president ahead of the 2027 elections.

The statement said the six APC governors from the region pledged to work for the re-election of Mr Tinubu and Mr Shettima and the election of APC candidates across other levels of government.

The endorsement comes ahead of the 2027 general elections, in which Mr Tinubu is expected to seek a second term.