Politics
2027 Election: Reason Northerns Will Not Support Atiku, Obi Presidential Ambitions – Ex-Arewa Forum Secretary
A former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Anthony Sani has revealed why the North will allow President Bola Tinubu have a second term in 2027 instead supporting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi.
“The political dynamics surrounding zoning currently favour President Bola Tinubu,” ex-ACF scribe told The Nation in an interview in Kaduna.
“This thinking in that part of the country will likely count against the ambition of former vice president Atiku Abubakar and the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, in 2027.
Continuing, Sani said Tinubu “has only one term left, and after 2027, power is expected by many to return to the North in 2031. That prospect alone will influence how the North votes.
“Tinubu, being the only southern candidate constitutionally limited to one more term, is likely to get the support of voters who are thinking beyond 2027.
“Southern voters, because of the zoning arrangement and the quest for fairness, would not want the presidency to return to the North just yet.
“They would prefer the presidency remains in the South until 2031 so they can complete their expected eight years before power shifts again.
“Therefore, it is unlikely that the South would vote massively for a Northern candidate in 2027.”
Sani also said most northern voters “would also strategically vote for Tinubu, not only out of loyalty to the late Buhari, but also because it aligns with their long-term interest of producing the next president in 2031.
“Supporting Tinubu in 2027 means the North can present a strong case for power to return to their region after his final term.”
Sani said the influence of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari would also play a role in Tinubu’s bid for a second term, especially in the North because, according to him, “Buhari was able to command the loyalty and support of most northern voters largely because he was widely perceived as an honest, disciplined, transparent, principled and austere leader.”
He added: “Northerners saw him (Buhari) as someone who would never dip his hands into public funds for personal gain. That image gave him an uncommon kind of cult followership, especially among the poor.
“With his demise and the evolving political alignments ahead of 2027, I do not think that his political influence will fade or wane substantially, at least not so soon.
“His legacy is still fresh in the hearts of many, especially in the rural North, and that will continue to shape voting patterns for some time to come.
“With the passing of President Buhari, I believe President Bola Tinubu may still prevail among northern voters for two key reasons.
“First, because the influence of Buhari, particularly in the North, is still very strong and may not diminish significantly before the 2027 elections.
“Second, because of the politics of zoning and rotational presidency, which is very important to many Nigerians today.
“You may recall that when Buhari was still alive, he made it clear he did not support the coalition of opposition forces against the APC.
“He publicly distanced himself from such efforts, which showed that his loyalty remained with the APC platform that brought him to power.
“That endorsement of continuity with the APC by Buhari still matters to many of his supporters today.”
Politics
2027 Election: Top APC Governor Finally Speaks on Joining ADC
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has dismissed reports linking him with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that he remains fully committed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.APC party information
The governor reacted after photographs of him with the ADC’s Ondo Central Senatorial candidate, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, surfaced online following a church service at the Government House Chapel in Akure on Sunday.
The images, which also showed some of Akinyelure’s supporters and other personalities from Idanre, led to speculation that Aiyedatiwa was building political ties with members of the opposition.
Responding through a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor described the reports as “false, misleading and deliberately mischievous,” accusing those behind them of trying to create division within the APC.
Aiyedatiwa explained that the Government House Chapel, like the mosque within the Government House complex, is a public place of worship open to everyone, regardless of political affiliation.
“The Government House Chapel is a public place of worship. Just like the Mosque within the Government House premises, the Chapel is open to all citizens, religious leaders and public officials who wish to worship. It is not an APC-only facility. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand the purpose of Government House as the house of all the people of Ondo State,” the statement said.
The governor clarified that Senator Ayo Akinyelure attended the church service to worship and also used the opportunity to appreciate him for sending representatives and a goodwill message to his 70th birthday celebration held last week.
According to the statement, “Senator Akinyelure was at the Government House Chapel to worship and to personally thank His Excellency for sending representation and a goodwill message on the occasion of his 70th birthday last week. This is a normal act of courtesy, decorum and respect that transcends party lines.”
The statement further pointed out that Senator Ayo Akinyelure is the younger brother of Chief Pius Akinyelure, a prominent APC leader, ally of President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council in Ondo State.APC party information
Rejecting claims of any political understanding with the ADC, the governor stressed that the meeting should not be interpreted as an alliance with the opposition.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa remains committed to the APC and all its candidates. The Governor will work with all party structures to ensure that APC wins all elections in Ondo State,” the statement added.
The governor urged APC members and residents of the state to ignore what he described as attempts by political opponents to sow confusion within the ruling party, maintaining that his administration remains focused on governance rather than political distractions.Leadership development programs
“The Governor remains focused. The APC remains strong. And Ondo State will continue to progress,” the statement concluded.
The clarification comes amid political tension within the Ondo APC following the party’s recent primary elections and growing speculation over the rivalry between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
It is reported that the outcome of the recent primary election favoured allies of Tunji-Ojo over Aiyedatiwa’s loyalists, fuelling speculation of growing political tension between the two leaders
Politics
APC Appoints Omisore, 275 Others to Campaign Council
The All Progressives Congress has drafted former Osun State Deputy Governor, Iyiola Omisore and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara into its 276-member National Campaign Council for the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.
The campaign council, unveiled on Sunday by the APC National Working Committee, will be chaired by Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and will be inaugurated on Tuesday, July 28, at the Transcorp Hilton Event Centre, Abuja.
The announcement was contained in a notice signed by the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.
The inclusion of Omisore is expected to put to rest recent speculation about his commitment to the APC following the defection of some of his close political associates to the Accord to support Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election bid.
The rumours gathered momentum after Omisore was absent from the APC governorship campaign flag-off in Ile-Ife, fuelling claims that he had distanced himself from the party.
According to the notice, Uzodimma will serve as chairman of the council, while Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas will serve as co-chairmen.
The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari, was named deputy chairman, while Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin will serve as secretary.
The statement read, “Uzodimma will chair the National Campaign Council, while Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will serve as co-chairmen.
“Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari, will serve as Deputy Chairman, while the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, will function as Secretary of the council.
“The council comprises governors, members of the National Working Committee, principal officers of the National Assembly, ministers, federal and state lawmakers, party leaders and other stakeholders drawn from across the country.”
Basiru added that specialised sub-committees had also been constituted to coordinate the campaign.
They include Election Planning and Management, Finance and Resource Mobilisation, Contact, Grassroots Engagement and Mobilisation, Logistics and Campaign Management, Monitoring and Compliance, Protocol, Media and Publicity, Security, Youth Mobilisation, Special Interest (Persons with Disabilities) Mobilisation, Women’s Mobilisation and Secretariat.
“The inauguration of the National Campaign Council and its Sub-Committees is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Event Centre, Abuja at 12:00 Noon,” the notice added.
The APC is fielding former Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, who emerged as the party’s consensus governorship candidate after consultations among key stakeholders.
He will face the incumbent governor, Adeleke, in what is expected to be a keenly contested election widely seen as a political test ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to Omisore’s appointment, the Chairman of the Omisore Campaign Organisation, Mr Ajibola Famurewa, dismissed suggestions that the former deputy governor was drifting away from the APC, saying he would accept the assignment as a loyal party member.
“I have not spoken with Otunba Omisore, and I have not seen the list too. If Otunba Omisore’s name is there, as a former deputy governor, senator, and national secretary of the party, it is the tradition to list people of that calibre in the campaign council, especially from Osun State.
“That is the tradition of the party. On whether he will accept or not, as a party man, he will. It depends on the assignment given to him within the council.
“You talked about him not attending the flag-off; was he properly informed? He was not properly invited to that flag-off,” Famurewa said.
He maintained that Omisore and several other APC leaders who missed the campaign flag-off received their invitations barely 24 hours before the event, making it difficult for them to attend.
News
Accord Party Rejects Gov Adeleke, Adopts APC Candidate For Osun Elections
The factional National Chairman of the Accord Party, Prof. Chris Imumolen, has reaffirmed the party’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and endorsed his re-election bid, while insisting that the decision does not amount to a merger with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Imumolen also announced that Accord had resolved to support the APC governorship candidate in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
The Accord chairman said the party’s support for Tinubu was based on its assessment of the administration’s economic reforms and efforts towards national development.
“Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is based on our conviction that Nigeria’s progress requires continuity in policies that strengthen our economy, deepen reforms, and promote national stability.
“We have therefore endorsed his re-election because we believe it is in the best interest of our country,” Imumolen said.
The party chairman, however, cautioned against interpreting the endorsement as evidence that Accord had surrendered its political identity or merged with another party.
“Let me state this clearly: the party’s endorsement of President Tinubu does not amount to the dissolution of the Accord Party or its merger with any political platform.
“Accord remains an independent political party with its own constitution, leadership, ideology, and vision for Nigeria,” he said.
Imumolen maintained that the party would continue to take independent positions on political and governance issues despite its support for Tinubu. On the Osun State governorship election, the party said it had taken a strategic decision to adopt Oyebamiji, the APC candidate. Imumolen said the decision followed consultations and an assessment of the political situation in the state.
“After careful consultations and a thorough assessment of the political realities in Osun State, the Accord Party has resolved to adopt and support the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
“This strategic decision is driven solely by our commitment to ensuring competent leadership and sustainable development for the people of Osun State,” he stated.
Accord urged members of the public, the media and political stakeholders to distinguish between its endorsement of Tinubu at the national level and its alliance with the APC candidate in Osun State. The party said suggestions that it had ceased to operate independently were inaccurate and misleading.
It added that it remained committed to democratic principles, national unity and issue-based politics, stressing that its political decisions would continue to be guided by what it considered the best interests of Nigerians.
Naija News reports that the Accord Party faction loyal to Governor Ademola Adeleke had earlier endorsed President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
The party chairman, however, cautioned against interpreting the endorsement as evidence that Accord had surrendered its political identity or merged with another party.
“Let me state this clearly: the party’s endorsement of President Tinubu does not amount to the dissolution of the Accord Party or its merger with any political platform.
“Accord remains an independent political party with its own constitution, leadership, ideology, and vision for Nigeria,” he said.
Imumolen maintained that the party would continue to take independent positions on political and governance issues despite its support for Tinubu. On the Osun State governorship election, the party said it had taken a strategic decision to adopt Oyebamiji, the APC candidate.
Imumolen said the decision followed consultations and an assessment of the political situation in the state.
After careful consultations and a thorough assessment of the political realities in Osun State, the Accord Party has resolved to adopt and support the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
“This strategic decision is driven solely by our commitment to ensuring competent leadership and sustainable development for the people of Osun State,” he stated.
Accord urged members of the public, the media and political stakeholders to distinguish between its endorsement of Tinubu at the national level and its alliance with the APC candidate in Osun State.
The party said suggestions that it had ceased to operate independently were inaccurate and misleading.
It added that it remained committed to democratic principles, national unity and issue-based politics, stressing that its political decisions would continue to be guided by what it considered the best interests of Nigerians.
Daily voice reports that the Accord Party faction loyal to Governor Ademola Adeleke had earlier endorsed President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
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