Akume tells North to back Tinubu in 2027, wait for 2031
- SGF George Akume said the North should support President Tinubu's second term in 2027.
- He argued that any Northerner seeking the presidency in 2027 would work against the region's interests.
- Akume spoke in Kaduna ahead of the APC presidential campaign flag-off.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has urged the North to support President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027 and wait until 2031 to pursue its own presidential ambition.
Akume spoke on Saturday in Kaduna at a gathering of Benue State indigenes, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off in the state capital.
He said any Northerner who contests the presidency in 2027 would be acting against the region's interests. According to him, the North should let Tinubu finish what he called his political project before considering its own bid in 2031.
“President Bola Tinubu should be allowed to complete his political project before the North considers its own presidential ambition in 2031,” Akume said.
The former Benue governor also called for unity in the North, warning that political, religious or personal differences could weaken the region's influence.
“The North must remain united and focus on its collective interest rather than allow individual ambitions to divide us,” he said.
Akume asked Northerners to weigh political developments carefully and not be swayed by individuals whose ambitions might not serve the region's broader good. He also stressed peaceful coexistence among Nigeria's ethnic and religious groups, saying national development depends on it.
Why it matters
The 2027 election is already shaping up as a contest over regional alliances. President Tinubu, from the South-West, has not formally declared a re-election bid, but his party is preparing for the campaign. The North, which voted heavily for Tinubu in 2023, will be key to any second-term bid.
Akume's remarks signal that the APC wants to keep the North on board and avoid a primary fight. For ordinary Nigerians, the debate matters because the next president will shape policies on fuel, food prices, security and jobs.
The flag-off in Kaduna is expected to draw party leaders and supporters from across the country.
What happens next
The APC campaign will formally kick off in Kaduna, with party leaders expected to rally support for Tinubu. It remains to be seen whether other Northern politicians will heed Akume's call or push their own ambitions.
