By Lizzy Chirkpi

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has pledged what he described as 100 per cent support from the North for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Yusuf gave the assurance during the unveiling of AREWA for Tinubu, declaring his support for the President on behalf of northern states.

“On behalf of all northern states, and on behalf of all patriotic northern states, we want to assure President Tinubu of our full support, 100%, for the 2027 election,” the governor said.

His declaration comes amid political realignments and efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Yusuf’s position is particularly notable given that he became Kano governor in 2023 on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), with the backing of former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who remains an influential political figure in the state.

Kwankwaso is now associated with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he has been identified as a vice-presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

The governor’s endorsement of Tinubu therefore comes against the backdrop of changing political affiliations and competing interests within the northern political landscape.

Yusuf has previously urged northern leaders and voters to support Tinubu for a second term, arguing that the South should be allowed to complete an eight-year presidential tenure following the eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North.

In September, he appealed to northern political leaders to respect what he described as the understanding on power rotation between the North and South.

“The presidency must remain in the South for a second term,” Yusuf said.

He has also argued that continuity would give the Tinubu administration an opportunity to consolidate its economic reforms and infrastructure projects.

However, the governor’s declaration represents his stated position and does not, in itself, establish the level of support Tinubu enjoys across the North, where political parties and leaders are pursuing different strategies ahead of the election.

The 2027 presidential contest is expected to feature Tinubu seeking re-election on the APC platform, alongside opposition candidates seeking to challenge the ruling party.