2027: North still with Tinubu – Gov Sani

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has dismissed claims of growing opposition to President Bola Tinubu in the North, predicting that the President could secure between 70 and 80 per cent of votes cast in Kaduna State during the 2027 presidential election.

Sani made the projection during an interview on Channels Television, where he addressed political realignments, opposition narratives and the battle for northern support ahead of the next general elections.

The governor said the belief that northern voters had turned against Tinubu was largely driven by political discussions on social media rather than the realities on the ground.

According to him, voters in Kaduna and other northern states would ultimately judge the President based on his administration’s performance, policies and impact on their daily lives.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will move from 29 per cent of votes to 70 to 80 per cent,” Sani said.

Kaduna was one of the key northern states where former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar defeated Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. Official results showed Atiku polling 554,360 votes in the state, while Tinubu recorded 399,293 votes.

However, Sani argued that the political landscape had changed significantly since then, pointing to the movement of opposition politicians into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in parts of southern Kaduna.

He also highlighted federal government projects and interventions in the state, including the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology in southern Kaduna and the development of a federal medical centre, as factors that could influence voters’ decisions.

The governor maintained that Kaduna politics was not driven by personal sentiments, saying he respected former governors and political leaders who had contributed to the state’s development.

“I don’t do politics of sentiments. I respect Nasir El-Rufai, I respect Makarfi, I respect Namadi Sambo. They have all done their best, but I am here to fight for APC,” he said.

Sani also warned Nigerians against accepting unrealistic campaign promises without demanding details on how such promises would be funded.

He said voters should ask politicians seeking public office to provide clear plans and practical solutions rather than relying on popular statements.

The governor further dismissed suggestions that presidential elections could be won through television appearances and social media campaigns alone, stressing that successful political movements must have strong grassroots structures.

“You don’t contest with the President by campaigning in Abuja,” he said, insisting that elections are won through consistent engagement with voters at the ward level.

Sani predicted that Tinubu would perform strongly across the Northwest, Northeast and North-Central regions, adding that the APC’s chances in 2027 would depend on its ability to communicate its achievements and maintain direct contact with Nigerians.