Nigeria: Zulum links return of power in the North to Tinubu’s re-election

The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, stated on Sunday, September 13, in Kaduna that Northern leaders in Nigeria would support Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027, with the expectation that the presidency would then return to the North.

Zulum framed this position as the outcome of a political agreement reached with Southern officials regarding the rotation of power. He recalled that Northern leaders had backed Tinubu’s ascension to the presidency in 2023 and believed that the South should be allowed to complete the current political cycle before a new regional alternation occurs.

His remarks came after a meeting in Kaduna with female scholars and religious leaders from the 19 Northern states. Kaduna Governor Uba Sani indicated during the same gathering that these delegates supported Tinubu’s re-election, citing federal policies in education, infrastructure, health, and agriculture.

This sequence of events occurs as supporters of the head of state accelerate their organization for the 2027 presidential election. Tinubu’s campaign has recently strengthened its team of spokespersons, while several political blocs in the North are increasingly vocal about the upcoming electoral deadline and the issue of regional power rotation.

Zulum also urged participants to convey a message of peace and patience in the face of security and social challenges. He explained that Northern officials had engaged in discussions about insecurity, poverty, and the high number of out-of-school children.

The governor finally emphasized the electoral weight of women in Borno State, estimating that they represent between 60 and 65 percent of the votes cast. He urged them to extend their mobilization efforts to local communities and neighborhoods in the North.