Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Northern political leaders and stakeholders to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, arguing that the region stands to benefit from the administration’s policies, appointments and development programmes.
Shettima made the appeal during a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, former Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru and other leaders of the National Directorate of Arewa for Asiwaju Movement.
The Vice President urged Northern stakeholders to maintain their support for the President, citing the administration’s interventions in agriculture and other sectors as reasons for continued cooperation.
He referenced the reported disbursement of N450 billion by the Bank of Agriculture to 700,000 smallholder farmers nationwide, saying approximately 70 per cent of the beneficiaries were from Northern Nigeria.
“I can assure you that the President loves the North and the President will work for the North,” Shettima said.
The meeting comes ahead of the planned inauguration of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council on October 14 and the party’s scheduled campaign flag-off in Kaduna on October 24.
Badaru pledged that the Arewa for Asiwaju Movement would continue its mobilisation activities in support of Tinubu’s re-election bid. He said the group intended to engage different sections of the population, including Muslim and Christian clerics.
Meanwhile, the Christian Social Movement of Nigeria is renewing efforts to facilitate a consensus arrangement among opposition figures. The organisation has invited 13 Christian presidential candidates, including Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde and Donald Duke, to participate in a dialogue process.
The separate initiative comes amid discussions about divisions within opposition parties and the possible impact of regional voting patterns on the next presidential election.
The Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative argued that divisions among opposition groups could benefit the APC. It suggested that Atiku Abubakar could face difficulties attracting sufficient support in the South, while Rabiu Kwankwaso’s political influence in the North-West could split votes among opposition candidates.
APC chieftain Dr Iliyasu Musa Kwankwaso also dismissed the prospect of Atiku securing Northern support through ethnic appeals, arguing that voters were increasingly considering issues beyond identity politics.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council criticised Atiku for referring to Tinubu by his first name, describing the action as disrespectful, while promising an issue-based campaign.
In a separate development, Peter Obi made his debut on TikTok Live and pledged that, if elected president, he would visit every state annually.
With campaign activities approaching, both the ruling party and opposition groups are pursuing strategies to consolidate support and address divisions ahead of the 2027 election.
