2027 Presidency: Northern Votes Under Threat as Makinde’s APM Challenges Tinubu Over Insecurity, Economic Hardship
2027 Presidency: Northern Votes Under Threat as Makinde’s APM Challenges Tinubu Over Insecurity, Economic Hardship
By Akin Alade
The battle for Northern Nigeria’s influential voting population ahead of the 2027 presidential election has intensified following fresh allegations by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has failed to fulfil major promises made to the region during his 2023 presidential campaign.
The Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO), representing Oyo State Governor and APM presidential candidate, Engineer Seyi Makinde, accused the Tinubu administration of neglecting the North despite the region’s significant contribution to his electoral victory. The organisation argued that persistent insecurity, economic hardship and alleged political marginalisation could undermine the President’s chances of securing another mandate.
In a statement issued by its Director of Strategic Communications, Richard Ihediwa, ahead of Tinubu’s scheduled presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna, the organisation challenged the President to explain what Northern communities had gained from his administration. It maintained that the region deserved measurable achievements in security, infrastructure, agriculture and economic development rather than renewed campaign promises.
The campaign organisation recalled Tinubu’s December 13, 2022, campaign appearance in Kaduna, where he pledged to tackle kidnapping, banditry and terrorism threatening communities across Northern Nigeria. According to the APM campaign, the continued activities of armed groups and repeated attacks on vulnerable communities have raised serious questions about the administration’s ability to deliver on those commitments.
The opposition campaign further alleged that approximately 13,000 people had been killed across Northern Nigeria since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, while millions had reportedly been displaced by insecurity. Although these figures were presented by the campaign organisation, they underscore its broader argument that security remains a critical issue likely to influence political decisions in the region.
Beyond insecurity, the APM accused the Federal Government of failing to sufficiently protect ordinary Nigerians from the economic consequences of rising living costs. It argued that farmers, traders, transport operators and low-income households had continued to face difficulties, while many rural communities remained exposed to violence that disrupted agricultural production and commercial activities.
The organisation also questioned what it described as the marginalisation of Northern interests in appointments to strategic federal positions. It warned against treating the region merely as an electoral stronghold to be courted during campaigns without corresponding attention to development, public welfare and effective governance.
Political observers believe the renewed confrontation could deepen the contest for Northern votes, particularly in states where insecurity, poverty, agricultural challenges and unemployment remain prominent public concerns. However, the APM’s prediction that Northern voters would reject Tinubu remains a political claim rather than an established reflection of voter intentions.
The Tinubu administration has consistently defended its economic reform agenda and security initiatives, maintaining that its policies are intended to stabilise the economy, strengthen national development and address longstanding structural challenges. The effectiveness of those measures, alongside the opposition’s proposed alternatives, is expected to feature prominently in the approaching presidential contest.
With Kaduna emerging as an important political battleground, the confrontation between the APC and APM signals an increasingly competitive struggle for influence across Northern Nigeria. Ultimately, the 2027 presidential election will provide voters with an opportunity to assess the administration’s record, examine competing policy proposals and determine which candidate they believe can best address the country’s security and economic challenges.
