Tinubu Has Backing of Nearly 35 Governors, Says Buba Galadima

A leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Buba Galadima, has said that President Bola Tinubu has the support of 34 and a half of Nigeria’s 36 governors.

Galadima also mentioned that Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has decided not to join the NDC before the 2027 general elections.

He made these comments during the launch of the NDC reconciliation committee on Friday.

According to him, the only governor who is clearly not with Tinubu is Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

Support Breakdown

Galadima called Abia State Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party as being with the President and described Bala Mohammed as the “half.” He explained that Mohammed was advised against joining a party that has a strong presidential candidate. He added that the governor is “on the fence” and could either side with the NDC or Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress.

“President Tinubu has 34 and a half governors. The only governor that is not with him is Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. Alex Otti of Abia State is there. Forget about that.

“The half is Governor Bala Mohammed. We met with him until 3am, and he was supposed to defect the next day, but he called us in the morning saying he has changed his mind because he was advised not to move to a party with a strong presidential candidate.

“Bala Mohammed is on the fence. He may work with us, or he may work with President Tinubu,” he said.

Political Realignment

This claim comes as the APC has gained control of over 30 of Nigeria’s 36 state governorships through many high-profile defections. Some of these include former PDP governors like Sheriff Oborevwori from Delta, Umo Eno from Akwa Ibom, Peter Mbah from Enugu, Douye Diri from Bayelsa, Siminalayi Fubara from Rivers, Caleb Mutfwang from Plateau, Agbu Kefas from Taraba, and Ahmadu Fintiri from Adamawa. Abba Yusuf of Kano also switched from the NNPP.

Among the few opposition governors left, some have openly supported Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. Charles Soludo of Anambra (APGA) has repeatedly backed the president and referred to APGA and the APC as ideological allies. Ademola Adeleke of Osun (Accord) has also publicly supported Tinubu as “our own son, father and leader.”

Governor Mohammed left the PDP in May 2026 for the Allied Peoples Movement after talks with the APC about power-sharing collapsed. He is still one of the few governors not in the ruling party.