The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would secure overwhelming support across Northern Nigeria in the 2027 presidential election, dismissing claims that the region has turned against the President.
Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, said suggestions that the North would reject Tinubu’s re-election bid were unfounded and driven by opposition politicians.
According to the minister, Tinubu is expected to improve on his performance in the North compared with the 2023 presidential election, when votes in several states were split among the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party.
His comments come amid endorsements from several pro-Tinubu groups, including the Northern Elders Progressive Movement (NEPM), which praised the administration’s efforts in addressing insecurity, expanding infrastructure and promoting national unity.
In a statement, NEPM Secretary-General Yusuf Abubakar commended the President for implementing policies which he said were aimed at fostering long-term national development. The group also cited recent military operations against armed groups in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states as evidence of progress in tackling insecurity.
Similarly, the Christian Northern Nigeria Progressive Forum (CNNPF) endorsed Tinubu for a second term during the presentation of the administration’s three-year scorecard to Northern Christian communities in Abuja.
The forum’s National Chairman, Ibrahim Gabriel Itodo, argued that allowing the South to complete an eight-year presidential tenure would promote national unity and political stability. He also urged political leaders to respect the long-standing principle of rotating the presidency between the North and the South.
Supporters of the President have also pointed to ongoing investments in agriculture, transport infrastructure and security as reasons they believe Tinubu will enjoy stronger electoral support in the North in 2027.
They argue that improvements in road and rail projects, increased access to agricultural financing and measures aimed at boosting food production have positively impacted communities across the region.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani also recently expressed support for Tinubu’s administration, saying the President had delivered significant development projects across Northern Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Sani said Tinubu had done more for the region than previous administrations in areas including infrastructure, agriculture and healthcare.
“I can tell you categorically, no president has done for the North in terms of development as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done in the last three years. And I’m speaking on the basis of data and statistics,” the governor said.
While supporters of the President remain optimistic about his prospects in the 2027 election, opposition parties have continued to criticise the administration’s handling of issues such as the economy, insecurity and the cost of living, setting the stage for what is expected to be a keenly contested presidential race.
