Tinubu Faces Declining Northern Support Ahead of 2027

The article highlights the diminishing support for President Bola Tinubu in Northern Nigeria as the 2027 elections draw near. Unlike the 2023 elections, where he received substantial backing from Northern governors, the current sentiment is marked by ambivalence and a lack of enthusiasm.

Notably, only Alhaji Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, and a few other Northern political figures openly support Tinubu. The article emphasizes that historically, no presidential candidate has won without strong Northern support, citing past elections where candidates like Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo faced defeat without it.

The Northern governors, including Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara, have shown caution in their support, with their body language suggesting a lack of commitment. Analysts believe that Vice President Kashim Shettima's influence over Northern elites may be crucial for Tinubu's campaign, which currently lacks active engagement strategies to rally grassroots support.