By Suleiman Ibrahim.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and prominent northern leaders have openly criticized Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for his call for the Northern region to wait until 2031 before contesting the presidency. The ACF emphasized that the North should not be pressured into re-electing President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 elections.
Ganduje’s remarks were made during a meeting with a delegation from the Tinubu Media Centre and the Tinubu Northern Youth Forum, where he argued that fairness dictated that Tinubu should be allowed to serve a full eight-year term, similar to how former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northern leader, completed two terms.
However, ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, dismissed Ganduje’s comments as indicative of a “cult-like” mentality within the presidency, where unwavering loyalty is expected. He asserted that voters cannot be coerced and that their choices should not be influenced by force. Muhammad-Baba pointed out that past promises made by political leaders, including anti-corruption pledges, have often turned out to be misleading, leading to disillusionment among the electorate.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai also expressed skepticism about Tinubu’s re-election prospects, warning that his relationship with the North has worsened within less than two years of his presidency. El-Rufai’s comments highlighted the potential risks for Tinubu, drawing parallels to the fate of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who lost his re-election bid in 2015.
The situation underscores growing tensions within the APC and among northern leaders regarding the future of the party and its leadership, as they navigate the complex political landscape leading up to the 2027 elections.
