2027: Ganduje Says North Will Stand Firmly with Tinubu.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu Democracy Newsline January 31, 2026.
Abuja — Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed strong confidence that northern voters will overwhelmingly support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, dismissing claims that the region may withdraw its backing.
Ganduje made this assertion on Friday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation of Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders drawn from all 19 northern states. The delegation visited to formally honour him as Patron of the forum, citing his political leadership and commitment to national unity.
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Speaking at the event, Ganduje described President Tinubu as a rare political figure whose entire life has been shaped by democratic struggle, governance, and national cohesion. According to him, those speculating that the North would rally behind an alternative candidate in 2027 are “making a big mistake.”
“Pertaining to the next election in 2027, those that are nursing or thinking otherwise, that the North will vote for another candidate other than Asiwaju, are making a big mistake,” Ganduje said.
He stressed that President Tinubu’s long-standing involvement in Nigeria’s political evolution sets him apart, noting that his democratic credentials were forged during years of activism, sacrifice, and even exile.
“This is the first time Nigeria as a nation is lucky to have a politician as President. His constituency is politics; his upbringing is politics. He believes deeply in the unity of this country and struggled relentlessly for democracy to survive,” he added.
The former Governor of Kano State further argued that Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated uncommon political courage, particularly through difficult but necessary economic reforms aimed at stabilising the nation.
According to Ganduje, while fuel subsidy removal had long been acknowledged as inevitable by successive administrations and even opposition candidates during the 2023 elections, President Tinubu was the first to decisively implement it. “All the candidates who contested with him in 2023 promised to remove fuel subsidy. Even previous governments promised to do so, but nobody was bold enough. Asiwaju succeeded,” he said.
He explained that the impact of the reform is already being felt across the federation, as states now receive increased allocations for development projects regardless of party affiliation.
“He did not remove the subsidy to benefit APC governors alone. He did it for the nation. Today, governors across political lines believe they are getting more funds to develop their states,” Ganduje noted.
Commending the Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders, Ganduje praised their commitment not only to political mobilisation but also to fundraising efforts in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid. He described their actions as a demonstration of belief, sacrifice, and patriotic responsibility.
“There is no better commitment than this. You are contributing funds, your brain, your energy, and your time to ensure the re-election of Asiwaju. I sincerely thank you for this,” he said.
The youth leaders, in their remarks, reaffirmed their resolve to mobilise grassroots support across the North, insisting that President Tinubu’s policies, though challenging, are laying the foundation for long-term economic stability and national growth.
As political alignments gradually take shape ahead of 2027, Ganduje’s comments signal a renewed effort by APC leaders to consolidate northern support and frame President Tinubu’s reform agenda as a shared national sacrifice rather than a partisan project.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 31ST 2026)
