2027 Election: Northern Stakeholders Declare Support for Tinubu-Shettima Second Term Bid

In a powerful display of political unity, a massive gathering of Northern Nigerian stakeholders under the Northern Progressives Coalition (NPC) took place in Abuja on Thursday. Their mission: a unanimous endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for re-election in 2027.

Representing a wide array of democratic interests across all 19 Northern states, the NPC said its support for the current administration is based on its reputation as the “most reliable and visionary leadership” Nigeria has seen in over six decades of independence.

A New Dawn in Northern Nigeria

Convener of the coalition, Usman Abdullahi, issued a formal statement praising the Tinubu-Shettima administration for igniting a socio-political and economic transformation, especially in the North, through inclusive governance and targeted reforms.

The coalition includes an impressive lineup: traditional rulers, political actors, women and youth groups, and civil society organizations – all of whom expressed satisfaction with the trajectory of national leadership.

Confronting Historic Northern Challenges

Abdullahi noted that for years, the North has been trapped in cycles of political neglect, economic isolation, and developmental disparities. However, under the Tinubu-Shettima administration, substantial efforts have been made to reverse these long-standing issues.

“From Bauchi to Zamfara, Taraba to Sokoto, the North has often been reduced to mere statistics, which overlook the lived struggles of our people,” he said. “But within just two years, a renewed vision has begun to take root.”

Leadership Through Representation

The NPC highlighted a landmark shift in federal appointments, where Northern professionals now hold key portfolios—not as symbolic placeholders, but as active contributors to national development.

Abdullahi cited roles in security, education reform, commerce, and oil regulation as areas where Northern technocrats have demonstrated leadership under Tinubu’s administration.

Health and Education Milestones

One of the standout accomplishments, according to NPC, is the commissioning of an advanced oncology center in Katsina, a major win under the national cancer care policy. This initiative has drastically reduced the need for Northern cancer patients to seek treatment in Lagos or Abuja.

Abdullahi also spotlighted:

• The National Student Loan Scheme, where Northern students make up 55% of the 396,000+ beneficiaries, receiving over ₦45 billion of the ₦77 billion disbursed by NELFUND.
• The development of 120+ learning centers equipped with solar power and clean water across Northern senatorial zones.
• The revival of 101 Almajiri and Tsangaya schools through partnerships with UBEC, notably in Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, and Kano.

Moreover, the newly formed National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) has introduced a national policy draft and is planning an Almajiri Health Scheme, which aims to pair healthcare access with education.

Infrastructure Projects Transforming the North

NPC celebrated several major infrastructure projects:

• The ₦740.79 billion Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Road
• The 1,068km Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway
• The ₦305 billion Abuja–Lokoja–Benin Road dualization

Additionally, dredging of River Niger near Lokoja and the BUA Group-backed Bode Saadu–Kaima–Kosubosu Road have improved commerce and mobility.

“These aren’t mere political speeches – these are actual projects with real budgets and physical progress,” Abdullahi emphasized.

Economic Reform and Empowerment

The coalition praised the fuel subsidy removal, asserting it disrupted entrenched corruption and freed up funds for local production and diversified economic development.

They also highlighted:

• Tax incentives for agro-processors
• VAT exemptions for small traders
• Targeted empowerment programs in Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Taraba, and Yobe, especially those affected by insecurity

These policies, Abdullahi said, have energized the North’s economic landscape.

Call for Continuity in 2027

The NPC warned that the 2027 general election must not turn into a “trial-and-error” political season.

Abdullahi argued that reform measures—like subsidy elimination, currency floatation, and tax system overhaul—require consistent leadership for their long-term benefits to fully manifest.

“No other leadership has understood and responded to the North’s challenges as well as Tinubu and Shettima,” he said, praising Shettima’s background as a banker and former governor.

The coalition criticized opposition aspirants, accusing them of using the North for votes with hollow promises and no enduring vision.

Roadmap for the Future

To sustain progress, the NPC outlined further recommendations:

• Expand agro-processing zones
• Launch a Northern Educational Renaissance Scheme under NELFUND
• Rehabilitate grazing reserves
• Set up youth tech innovation hubs
• Establish a Northern Women Enterprise Support Fund
• Enforce stricter monitoring of Northern appointees to ensure accountability

“The North has endured political betrayal and economic marginalization for too long,” Abdullahi said. “We are now at the core of governance, not its periphery.”

He urged traditional leaders, governors, legislators, and youths to embrace the ‘Renewed Hope for Northern Renaissance’ and support a renewed Tinubu-Shettima 2027 mandate for long-term national stability and prosperity.