•Presidency Fires Back, Touts Northern Projects
A fierce political battle is taking shape ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Northern leaders intensifying efforts to challenge President Bola Tinubu and his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Sources reveal deep-seated grievances over perceived marginalization, fueling a coordinated push to unseat the incumbent through strategic alliances and opposition realignment.
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Northern powerbrokers are reportedly working behind the scenes to present a formidable candidate—whether from the region or the South—to counter Tinubu’s re-election bid. Critics argue that the president’s overtures to the North amount to mere tokenism, while his administration remains entrenched in policies they claim disproportionately favor Southern interests. Despite the APC’s attempts to consolidate Northern support—evidenced by the recent replacement of former party chairman Abdullahi Ganduje with a North Central figure—dissatisfaction persists.
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The discontent has taken a sharper turn with whispers of a potential political bombshell: the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan as a consensus candidate. Insiders suggest this move is a calculated Northern strategy to fracture the South-South bloc and weaken Tinubu’s stronghold. “If Jonathan enters the race, it splits the Southern vote wide open,” a high-ranking source disclosed. “The North sees this as their best shot at reclaiming power.”
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Meanwhile, the opposition landscape is in flux. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has emerged as a battleground, with defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reportedly pressured into joining—only to face internal strife allegedly fueled by APC interference. Should standing falter, Northern strategists are said to be repositioning the PDP as a fallback option, further complicating the 2027 equation.
Prominent Northern voices, including ex-Northern Elders Forum leader Prof. Ango Abdullahi and former Kano Governor Musa Kwankwaso, have openly accused Tinubu of sidelining the region in key appointments and infrastructure projects. Kwankwaso’s recent claims of budgetary bias toward the South were swiftly rebuffed by Works Minister Dave Umahi, who dismissed the allegations as “false and divisive,” citing major Northern projects like the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline.
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The presidency, however, is not taking the threats lightly. Plans are underway to publicly contrast Tinubu’s appointments with those of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, in a bid to dispel claims of Northern neglect. “The numbers will speak for themselves,” a presidential aide asserted.
As tensions escalate, one thing is clear: the road to 2027 will be anything but smooth for Tinubu. With the North digging in, opposition forces regrouping, and Jonathan’s shadow looming, Nigeria’s political arena is set for a Political showdown
