Former Kano State Governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, and his Plateau State counterpart, Simon Lalong, have mobilised influential northern political leaders under the Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A) platform to strengthen support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The group, which plans to mobilise voters across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), unveiled its strategy during a meeting with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Shekarau, who led the delegation, said A4A was established to complement the party’s efforts by strengthening grassroots mobilisation, tackling voter apathy and converting political support into votes at the polls.
He said the group had analysed previous election results, identified areas where the APC performed strongly and mapped out locations requiring targeted mobilisation to improve voter turnout ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the group intends to work with the APC leadership, governors, the presidential campaign structure and other stakeholders to expand the party’s electoral support, particularly in northern Nigeria.
Shekarau disclosed that A4A had established about 20 directorates and was developing a grassroots network extending from the national level to states, local government areas and wards.
He explained that coordinators had been appointed across the states and directed to establish sectoral structures to drive mobilisation, stressing that the group would collaborate with existing party officials rather than create parallel structures.
The former governor also said A4A had compiled information on projects and programmes executed by the Tinubu administration in northern Nigeria to counter claims that the region had been neglected.
He maintained that several government interventions and ongoing infrastructure projects were not sufficiently known to the public, making it necessary for the group to intensify public awareness of the administration’s activities.
Shekarau also invited Yilwatda to the commissioning of the group’s secretariat scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at 2 p.m. He disclosed that Vice-President Kashim Shettima had accepted the invitation to attend the event.
Lalong: North Must Improve Electoral Contribution
In his remarks, Lalong, who is the deputy chairman of A4A’s Board of Trustees, described the initiative as a platform for experienced politicians to contribute to the APC’s electoral preparations.
He said the group brought together former governors, serving ministers, senators, former legislators and other political stakeholders willing to deploy their experience to advance the party’s objectives.
Lalong noted that northern Nigeria remained critical to national electoral calculations, adding that A4A was determined not only to support Tinubu’s re-election but also to improve on the region’s previous electoral contribution to the APC.
He said members of the group would identify weaknesses in the party’s mobilisation machinery and work towards addressing them before the elections.
APC Chairman Dismisses Opposition Claims
Responding, Yilwatda commended the A4A leadership for bringing together political leaders from different religious, regional, professional and demographic backgrounds.
He also praised the inclusion of younger members, saying the arrangement would provide opportunities for mentorship and leadership development.
The APC chairman dismissed suggestions that northern Nigeria was opposed to Tinubu, pointing to the participation of influential political figures in the group as evidence of support for the President.
He urged A4A to broaden its public engagement and proposed a press conference involving prominent northern political leaders to communicate their position on Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Yilwatda also defended the administration’s infrastructure and economic development record in the region, citing major road projects linking Kano with other parts of northern Nigeria, the Sokoto–Kebbi–Kwara corridor and other ongoing developments.
He claimed that road projects under construction or procurement across the region covered more than 3,000 kilometres.
The APC chairman further highlighted the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project, describing it as a major economic opportunity capable of supporting power generation, industrial growth and job creation.
According to him, improved gas availability could encourage state governments and private investors to establish power plants and distribution systems, while supporting industries that require reliable energy supplies.
He added that the project could also promote domestic gas utilisation, compressed natural gas adoption and fertiliser production across the region.
Yilwatda urged northern communities to take advantage of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme and other interventions aimed at expanding access to education and creating opportunities for young people.
He assured the delegation that the APC would work with A4A to integrate its grassroots structures into the party’s broader electoral plans.
The chairman said the party’s objectives extended beyond the presidential election to include winning National Assembly, governorship and state House of Assembly seats.
He stressed the need for effective coordination between the support group and party officials, expressing confidence that a coordinated mobilisation strategy would strengthen the APC’s preparations for the 2027 polls.
