2027: North-Central group backs Tinubu for second term, says re-election ‘done deal’

2027: North-Central group backs Tinubu for second term, says re-election ‘done deal’

A political advocacy group, the North Central Agenda (NCA), has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 presidential election, declaring that his re-election in the North-Central geopolitical zone is already a “done deal” based on what it described as the administration’s achievements in infrastructure, security, education and economic development.

The endorsement was announced during a one-day conference on the development of the North-Central under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, attended by delegates from Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside government officials, political stakeholders and supporters of the administration.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Convener of the North Central Agenda, Dr. Ene Lilian Ogbole, said the Tinubu administration has reversed years of neglect by implementing projects and policies aimed at transforming the region.

According to her, before President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, the North-Central was grappling with deteriorating infrastructure, worsening insecurity and declining economic opportunities. She, however, said the administration has demonstrated the political will to address those challenges through targeted investments and reforms.

Ogbole highlighted several ongoing federal infrastructure projects across the region, including the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Kogi–Nasarawa–Abuja Super Highway, the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Maiduguri Highway, the Suleja–Minna Dual Carriageway, the Lokoja–Okene Dualisation Project, and the Makurdi–Aliade–Otukpo Road.

She said the projects are expected to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, reduce transportation costs and stimulate economic activities across the North-Central and other parts of the country.

READ ALSO:

• Reps investigate xenophobic attacks, seek compensation for Nigerians in South Africa
• High graduation fees spark outrage among parents, guardians
• NNPCL delivered less than 25% of expected crude under naira-for-crude programme — Dangote

The NCA convener also commended the Federal Government’s interventions in the education sector, particularly increased funding through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the implementation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides financial support for eligible students in tertiary institutions.

She further praised the administration’s security efforts, saying intensified military operations against banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities have enabled many farmers to return to their farmlands while businesses gradually resume operations in previously affected communities.

Describing the North-Central as a strategic political bloc, Ogbole said the equitable spread of federal projects across the region has changed public perception of the Tinubu administration.

She pledged that the organisation would embark on extensive mobilisation campaigns across the six North-Central states and the FCT ahead of the 2027 elections.

“For us as the mouthpiece of the North Central people, this re-election is a done deal as we will stop at nothing within the confines of the law to ensure that his victory is secured,” she said.

Representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the conference, his Senior Assistant (Technical), Prof. Babatunde Bolaji Benard, said President Tinubu is laying the foundation for Nigeria’s long-term economic growth through bold reforms and strategic infrastructure investments.

He acknowledged that some of the administration’s economic policies may take time to produce visible results but argued that they are necessary for sustainable national development.

Benard described the NELFUND Student Loan Scheme as one of the government’s landmark achievements, noting that it has expanded access to higher education for many Nigerian students.

He also highlighted the economic importance of the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, explaining that the project will include 32 dams to support irrigation, agriculture, water supply and industrial development.

According to him, such infrastructure projects are designed not only to improve transportation but also to unlock long-term economic opportunities and create jobs.

In his goodwill message, APC chieftain from Benue State, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, commended President Tinubu for strengthening security in the state, supporting development projects and working closely with Governor Hyacinth Alia.

He expressed confidence that the President would enjoy overwhelming support in Benue State during the 2027 election.

Meanwhile, supporters of President Tinubu dismissed renewed criticism of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket by former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who recently argued that the issue would remain relevant in the next presidential election.

Responding to the comments, the Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), Dr. Umar Tanko Yakasai, said Nigerians had already settled the issue during the 2023 general election by electing Tinubu as President.

Yakasai maintained that the administration has demonstrated inclusiveness through appointments across different geopolitical zones, ethnic groups and religious backgrounds.

He cited appointments involving North-Central indigenes and other regions as evidence of balanced representation, dismissing claims that the administration has concentrated key positions in any particular part of the country.

The endorsement comes amid increasing political consultations and alignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with various political groups and stakeholders beginning to declare their positions well before party primaries.

Although President Tinubu has not formally declared his intention to seek re-election, endorsements from support groups have continued to gather momentum as political activities gradually intensify across the country.

Political analysts, however, note that while endorsements by advocacy groups may influence public discourse, the outcome of the 2027 presidential election will ultimately depend on party primaries, campaign issues, voter participation and the electorate’s assessment of the administration’s performance.

2027: North-Central group backs Tinubu for second term, says re-election ‘done deal’