A New Group for Tinubu's 2027 Campaign in Northern Nigeria

A group of key political figures from the north, including former governors and lawmakers, has come together to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election. They formed a platform called Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A).

This group will operate in all 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It will be led by a 14-member Board of Trustees (BOT) with former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, as the chair.

Ibrahim Geidam, the Minister of Police Affairs, will serve as Shekarau’s deputy. Former Plateau governor Simon Lalong will also be a deputy. The board’s secretary will be former Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru.

Mr Badaru will head the operational side of the movement as the Director General. He will be supported by three Deputy National Coordinators from the North-west, North-central, and North-east regions.

To effectively run its national campaign, A4A has set up special directorates for important areas such as finance, communications, youth and women mobilisation, parliamentary affairs, traditional and religious institutions, civil society, ICT, and academia.

Some key appointments include Abdulaziz Abdulaziz for Communications, Suleiman Kawu Sumaila for Parliamentary Mobilisation, and Iman Suleiman, the Minister of Women Affairs, for Women Mobilisation.

To manage grassroots activities, the group has appointed coordinators in all 19 northern states and the FCT. Former minister Abdullahi Gwarzo and former Benue governorship candidate Emmanuel Jime are among those chosen.

Hadiza Bala-Usman will lead the national secretariat. A4A plans to officially launch its platform soon at a ceremony in Abuja. There will also be zonal and state-level events following the launch.