Prominent northern leaders, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), have rejected a statement by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje.

He had urged the North to wait until 2031 before seeking the presidency again and to support President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027.

Ganduje made this remark while meeting with members of the Tinubu Northern Youth Forum and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre at the APC national headquarters in Abuja.

He argued that since former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, served two terms, Tinubu should be allowed to do the same.

However, the ACF and other northern politicians dismissed his statement. The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof.

Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said voters should not be forced into supporting any candidate. He described Ganduje’s comment as a reflection of a political system where leaders expect total loyalty.

According to Muhammad-Baba, Nigerians had been misled in the past with promises of anti-corruption and economic progress, but many now see those claims as false.

He also said that the current administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda is becoming a disappointment for many.

Additionally, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, cast doubt on Tinubu’s re-election chances. On his verified X account, he shared a post warning that Tinubu’s relationship with the North is weakening.

The post compared Tinubu’s situation to that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who lost re-election in 2015 due to a lack of strong support.

With growing discontent among northern leaders, Tinubu may face serious challenges in securing re-election in 2027.