2027: North will back Tinubu’s re-election bid, says ex-ACF Secretary-General

Former Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, has predicted that the North will overwhelmingly support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, citing the region’s desire to reclaim the presidency in 2031.

Speaking on Wednesday, Sani argued that political calculations surrounding Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement would play a significant role in shaping voting patterns across the country during the next general election.

According to him, many northern voters are likely to support Tinubu’s bid for a second term because it would preserve the informal zoning arrangement that alternates presidential power between the North and the South.

“President Bola Tinubu will get the majority votes in the North because the North is hoping to produce the President in 2031 after it has been in the South for eight years,” Sani said.

The former ACF spokesman explained that backing Tinubu for another four-year term would strengthen the North’s chances of reclaiming the presidency when the current cycle of southern leadership is expected to end.

Sani also weighed in on the political prospects of former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, predicting that the South-East would remain largely loyal to him in 2027.

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He attributed such support to what he described as the politics of identity and zoning, which he believes would influence voting behaviour in the region.

“Politics of identity called zoning would not allow Igbos to vote against Peter Obi in 2027. This is because this time the President is in the South and is expected to be in the North by 2031,” he stated.

Sani further claimed that northern political interests would be reluctant to support Obi’s presidential ambition, expressing doubts about the former governor’s pledge to serve only a single term if elected.

According to him, many in the North remain unconvinced by Obi’s one-term commitment and fear that his presidency could generate political uncertainties.

“As to Peter Obi, the North cannot trust Peter Obi’s pledge to do only one tenure,” Sani said.

He also alleged that concerns within parts of the North have been heightened by Obi’s perceived stance on the activities of Indigenous People of Biafra and its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Sani argued that Obi’s failure to openly condemn IPOB and Kanu has contributed to reservations among some northern stakeholders regarding his presidential aspirations.

His comments come amid increasing political realignments and early permutations ahead of the 2027 general election, with political actors across the country already positioning themselves for what is expected to be a fiercely contested race for Nigeria’s highest office.