PoliticalNews Nigeriastudies that with 715 days to the February 20, 2027, presidential election, political manoeuvring and realignments are already in movement as aspirants and their supporters start strategizing for the race.
Final month, the Nationwide Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, declared that the North would assist President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election and reclaim energy in 2031, following the North-South energy rotation precept.
Echoing related sentiments, Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Bello Matawalle, affirmed that the North would rally behind Tinubu to make sure the continuity of his developmental tasks throughout the nation till 2031.
Nonetheless, their feedback have drawn blended reactions from Northern leaders, particularly as sources point out that Tinubu is courting South-East and South-South leaders to spice up his 2027 re-election prospects.
With the APC ticket probably Tinubu’s to assert until he opts out, his success will hinge on securing a majority of votes whereas assembly the constitutional requirement of gaining not less than 25% of votes in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Within the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu’s victory got here largely from the North-West, North-Central, and South-West. Nonetheless, he confronted stiff opposition within the South-East and South-South and even didn’t safe 25% of votes in Abuja.
2023 Presidential Election Outcomes Breakdown
South-West (Tinubu’s Stronghold)
Tinubu: 2,542,979 votes (58.4%)
Atiku: 941,941 votes (21.6%)
Obi: 849,423 votes (9.5%)
Kwankwaso: 16,644 votes (0.38%)
Whole Votes: 4,350,987
South-South (Obi’s Dominance)
Obi: 1,210,675 votes (44.1%)
Tinubu: 799,957 votes (29.1%)
Atiku: 717,908 votes (26.1%)
Kwankwaso: 17,167 votes (0.63%)
Whole Votes: 2,745,707
South-East (Obi’s Stronghold)
Obi: 1,960,569 votes (89.6%)
Tinubu: 127,605 votes (5.8%)
Atiku: 91,198 votes (4.2%)
Kwankwaso: 8,227 votes (0.38%)
Whole Votes: 2,187,599
North-Central (Tinubu’s Victory)
Tinubu: 1,760,993 votes (41.3%)
Obi: 1,415,557 votes (33.2%)
Atiku: 1,025,178 votes (24.1%)
Kwankwaso: 60,056 votes (1.4%)
Whole Votes: 4,261,784
North-East (Atiku’s Stronghold)
Atiku: 1,741,846 votes (55.9%)
Tinubu: 933,176 votes (29.9%)
Obi: 315,107 votes (10.1%)
Kwankwaso: 126,343 votes (4.05%)
Whole Votes: 3,116,472
North-West (Tinubu’s Highest Vote Zone)
Tinubu: 2,652,235 votes (41%)
Atiku: 2,197,824 votes (33.9%)
Kwankwaso: 1,268,250 votes (19.6%)
Obi: 350,183 votes (5.4%)
Whole Votes: 6,468,492
Whole Votes within the North
Tinubu: 5,346,404 votes (38.9%)
Atiku: 4,834,767 votes (35.2%)
Obi: 2,080,847 votes (15.2%)
Kwankwaso: 1,454,649 votes (10.6%)
Whole Votes: 13,716,667
Whole Votes within the South
Obi: 4,020,687 votes (44.5%)
Tinubu: 3,206,969 votes (35.5%)
Atiku: 1,751,047 votes (19.4%)
Kwankwaso: 42,038 votes (0.46%)
Whole Votes: 9,020,741
Tinubu’s 2027 Technique: Wooing the South-East and South-South
To enhance his standing within the South-East and South-South, Tinubu is reportedly reaching out to governors and political leaders in these areas.
Sources point out to Vanguard that aside from implementing key tasks in these zones, Tinubu is exploring a political association that may permit opposition governors to retain their seats in change for electoral assist in 2027.
If profitable, this technique may see Professor Charles Soludo (Anambra, APGA), Dr. Peter Mbah (Enugu, PDP), Pastor Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom, PDP), the PDP authorities in Bayelsa, and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta, PDP) retaining their positions, whereas Tinubu secures the required votes in these states.
Moreover, governors focused on defecting to APC can be welcomed with out resistance.
Nonetheless, not everybody within the APC helps this technique. The Chairman of United Nigeria Airways and an APC governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Obiora Okonkwo, argues that securing an APC governor in Anambra by means of the upcoming election can be extra helpful for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid than counting on an opposition governor.