2027 elections: Why Tinubu, Sani deserve second term – Zaria

The Chairman of the Tinubu/Uba Sani Mobilisation Network, Dr Abdulmumini Mohammed Aminu-Zaria, has thrown his weight behind the re-election bids of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, arguing that both leaders should be given another term to consolidate their policies and ongoing development projects.

Aminu-Zaria made the position known at a press conference on Sunday, October 11, 2026, where he also announced that his organisation was targeting 1.2 million votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State during the 2027 general elections.

He said his support for the two administrations was based on what he considered their records in office, rather than personal relationships or partisan loyalty, insisting that political leaders should be assessed by their performance and the impact of their policies on citizens.

“If he has not done very well, honestly speaking, I can only be his friend and go with him. Whatever he says, I will follow him. But I cannot malign my name,” he said.

The mobilisation network chairman argued that continuity in government was necessary to allow ongoing projects to reach completion, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, security and public service delivery.

He urged Kaduna residents to look beyond political sentiments and assess Uba Sani’s administration on its achievements and the extent to which its programmes had addressed the needs of the state.

“My call for the people of Kaduna State is that we should put sentiment aside. If he has done it well, let’s accept that he has done it and give him the opportunity to go for a second term so that he can complete the good job he has started,” he said.

Aminu-Zaria warned that changes in government could affect ongoing projects if a successor chose to abandon programmes initiated by a predecessor for political reasons. He maintained that a four-year tenure could be insufficient for completing major infrastructure and development initiatives.

“No government can start a project and complete it in four years. You need extra time. That is the extra time we are talking about because of what he has done. He needs extra time,” he added.

Tinubu’s support for Kaduna development

Aminu-Zaria credited Tinubu with supporting the Kaduna State Government’s development agenda, saying cooperation between the federal and state governments had contributed to projects being executed across the state.

He argued that the relationship between both administrations had helped Kaduna attract federal attention and support, adding that the state’s development plans could not be discussed without acknowledging the role of the President.

“These things would not have been possible without the support of the President. All the development in Kaduna State cannot be discussed without mentioning Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

The mobilisation chairman also cited federal appointments secured by indigenes of Kaduna State as evidence of the state’s representation under the Tinubu administration.

He referred to appointments into ministerial positions and federal agencies, as well as the emergence of a Kaduna indigene as Speaker of the House of Representatives, as developments he believed had strengthened the state’s political relevance at the national level.

On infrastructure, Aminu-Zaria identified the Abuja-Kaduna road as a major priority, describing it as an important transport corridor linking the North-West with the Federal Capital Territory.

He said completing and improving the road would facilitate movement, support commercial activities and address longstanding concerns associated with travelling along the route.

He expressed optimism that substantial progress would be recorded on the project before December 2026, although the actual pace of work and completion timeline would ultimately depend on the project’s implementation.

Aminu-Zaria also praised the Kaduna State Government’s performance in healthcare and public service administration, maintaining that cooperation with the federal government had strengthened the state’s capacity to pursue its development priorities.

Subsidy removal and the case for continuity

Addressing the economic hardship experienced by Nigerians following the removal of the petrol subsidy and other reforms, Aminu-Zaria acknowledged the difficulties faced by households but defended the Tinubu administration’s decision to proceed with the policies.

He argued that the reforms should be assessed over time, rather than solely by their immediate effects on living costs, and maintained that reversing them without a sustainable alternative could create further economic difficulties.

“Yes, there is hardship in the land because of some policies. These policies are important; we must carry them out. It is either you do it and suffer, then enjoy later, or refuse to do it and suffer the consequences later,” he said.

Drawing on his experience in the federal civil service, where he said he worked for about 35 years before retiring as a director of human resources, he argued that the removal of the subsidy had increased the funds available to state governments.

He maintained that the additional resources should be assessed in relation to the capacity of governments to meet their obligations and finance development projects.

Aminu-Zaria also questioned opposition promises to restore the petrol subsidy, arguing that politicians should explain how such commitments would be financed and what consequences they could have for public spending.

“Is it easy to say? Yes. Is it easy to do? The answer is no,” he said.

He urged voters to examine campaign promises critically, insisting that policies should be judged by their feasibility and likely impact rather than their immediate political appeal.

Southern Kaduna relations and APC’s electoral prospects

The mobilisation chairman attributed the APC’s prospects in Kaduna State to what he described as improved relations between the state government and communities in Southern Kaduna.

He contrasted the present political atmosphere with previous periods of strained relations between the government and some communities, arguing that religious differences and a lack of trust had affected the ruling party’s acceptance in parts of the state.

According to him, Uba Sani’s engagement with communities across religious and cultural lines had helped improve confidence in the administration.

He cited the appointment of a Christian deputy governor and the governor’s participation in events involving both Muslims and Christians as examples of what he described as a more inclusive approach to governance.

“Today, Southern Kaduna and the government of Kaduna State are in sync. Today, the deputy governor is a Christian,” he said.

Aminu-Zaria added that the governor’s presence at religious and cultural gatherings had helped demonstrate respect for the state’s diversity.

“If it is Muslim, we go; if it is Christian, we go. That is why you see Christians and Muslims cohabiting in Kaduna State mutually. There is no mutual distrust,” he said.

He also disclosed that members of his mobilisation network had visited parts of Southern Kaduna to campaign against drug abuse. He said the engagements had provided an opportunity for members to interact with residents and hear their views on the state government’s performance.

Aminu-Zaria expressed confidence that improved engagement with communities across the state would strengthen the APC’s support base ahead of the 2027 elections.

His claims, however, represent the mobilisation network’s assessment of the political atmosphere, while the party’s actual electoral strength will ultimately be determined by voters.

Calls for a broader approach to insecurity

On the security challenges affecting Nigeria, Aminu-Zaria called for a strategy that combines military operations with dialogue, education and social development, arguing that sustained force alone had not addressed the underlying causes of violence.

He said insecurity was being fuelled by several factors, including inadequate security personnel and equipment, the proliferation of weapons, recruitment by armed groups and longstanding tensions between farmers and herders.

He argued that governments should pay greater attention to the social and economic conditions in vulnerable communities, particularly areas with limited access to education and basic public services.

“When you consistently tackle a problem using one method for 10 years without achieving the desired result, and you continue with that method, it means you are not ready to tackle the problem,” he said.

Aminu-Zaria advocated the establishment of accessible schools in underserved communities, with educational programmes designed to address local circumstances and connect residents to opportunities beyond their immediate environments.

He argued that neglect and limited access to public services could leave some communities vulnerable to recruitment by criminal and extremist groups.

“When every year you talk about a budget with your family in the bush, and that family does not know what a budget is, does not feel it and does not see it, the only things they see are farmers and cows,” he said.

He maintained that a more comprehensive response would allow military operations to be complemented by measures aimed at addressing the conditions that sustain violence.

The mobilisation chairman also urged political leaders to avoid inflammatory public statements on security matters, saying greater attention should be given to the safety of citizens and support for families affected by kidnappings and attacks.

He argued that governments should prioritise preventing killings and securing the release of abducted victims rather than engage in public exchanges with armed groups.

“The issue is not whether you pay ransom or whether you do not pay ransom. The question is: let the children not be killed, and let no citizen or indigene be killed. Provide the security you swore an oath to provide,” he said.

He praised Uba Sani’s engagement with affected communities, arguing that visits by political leaders and assurances about the safety of kidnapped victims could provide some reassurance to families facing uncertainty.

Defends rotation of presidential power

Aminu-Zaria also defended the principle of power rotation between northern and southern Nigeria, arguing that political equity required the arrangement to be respected.

He noted that the North had occupied the presidency for eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari and said it was fair for the South to retain the position under Tinubu.

“For me, I believe in equity. Not because I am from the APC, but because we ran eight years and the North ran eight years. If Tinubu is on board and he is from the South, then it is only fair that we respect the rotation,” he said.

He maintained that Tinubu should be allowed another term to consolidate the administration’s policies and development programmes, while urging voters to consider both the President’s record and the practical implications of alternative policy proposals.

His position reflects the argument advanced by supporters of rotational presidency, although the arrangement remains a political convention rather than a constitutional requirement.

Mobilisation network targets 1.2m votes

On his organisation’s electoral plans, Aminu-Zaria said the Tinubu/Uba Sani Mobilisation Network was targeting 1.2 million votes for the APC in Kaduna State in 2027.

He said the figure was based on the group’s internal assessment of the political environment, the performance of the two administrations and its mobilisation activities across the state.

“We did not just say 1.2 million. We said it based on our own analysis,” he said.

Aminu-Zaria acknowledged that the final outcome would depend on the decisions of voters but expressed confidence that the APC could secure substantial support if the party sustained its engagement with communities and demonstrated the benefits of its policies.

He challenged critics to wait for the election, insisting that the network’s target would be tested against the eventual results.

“Let the election come and go, and let’s see the numbers,” he added.

The 1.2 million-vote target is a political projection by the mobilisation network, not an independently verified forecast of the election outcome.

Aminu-Zaria maintained that the combination of Uba Sani’s performance, federal support under Tinubu and improved relations between the Kaduna State Government and communities across religious and regional lines would strengthen the APC’s position in 2027.

He urged residents to assess both administrations on their records and give them another term to complete ongoing projects and consolidate their programmes.