Indigenous tribes, principals endorse Tinubu, Uba Sani ahead of 2027 elections

Representatives of 20 indigenous tribes in Kauru and Lere local government areas of Kaduna State, alongside the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Kaduna State chapter, have declared support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The groups, which announced their positions at a joint press conference in Kaduna on Friday, also endorsed Vice President Kashim Shettima and Comrade Jerry Adams as running mates to Tinubu and Uba Sani, respectively, ahead of the general elections. Blueprint reports

The event, organised and sponsored by Gaskiya Network (ASUJ) 2027, brought together representatives of the Kauru-Lere Development Association, community development associations.

The community representatives said their endorsement followed consultations and deliberations on governance, security, infrastructure, agriculture, transportation, reconciliation and human capital development. Blueprint reports

For ANCOPSS, the endorsement of Uba Sani’s second-term ambition was principally informed by its assessment of the state government’s policies and interventions in the education sector, particularly teachers’ welfare, school infrastructure and access to basic education.

The President of ANCOPSS, Kaduna State chapter, Jonathan Danbaki, said the association considered several initiatives under the present administration relevant to the welfare of teachers, students and educational institutions.

Among the measures highlighted were school infrastructure development and renovation, teachers’ capacity development, the state’s free basic education policy and the reported extension of teachers’ service tenure to 40 years of service or 65 years of age, as applicable.

The association also cited the implementation of rural allowances for teachers serving in remote communities and the approval of a N72,000 minimum wage for eligible state civil servants, including secondary school teachers.

According to ANCOPSS, the measures constitute important considerations in its assessment of the administration’s performance and its decision to support Uba Sani’s re-election.

The association, however, did not declare an endorsement of the presidential ticket in its prepared statement, which focused principally on the Kaduna State government’s education policies and the governor’s second-term ambition.

Kauru, Lere communities cite peace, security, development

In a separate declaration presented at the same event, the Kauru-Lere Development Association, speaking on behalf of 20 indigenous tribes in the two local government areas, endorsed Tinubu and Shettima for a second term at the federal level and Uba Sani and Adams at the state level.

The association’s President, Comrade D. D. Randy, said the position followed consultations among representatives of the indigenous communities and reflected their assessment of government programmes and development priorities.

The association identified peacebuilding, security, infrastructure, agriculture, transportation and human development as key considerations behind its support for continuity in governance.

It argued that sustained implementation of ongoing policies and programmes would be important to consolidating development initiatives and expanding opportunities for rural communities.

The association also stressed the importance of inclusive governance, reconciliation and cooperation across political, ethnic and religious divides, noting that peaceful coexistence was essential to sustainable development in Kaduna State.

Reconciliation, security top community priorities

The Kauru-Lere representatives particularly acknowledged a reconciliation initiative undertaken by Governor Uba Sani on February 25, saying dialogue and political inclusion were important to strengthening cooperation across political divides.

They maintained that development would be difficult to achieve without an environment in which citizens could participate in public affairs irrespective of their political, ethnic or religious affiliations.

Security also featured prominently in the communities’ declaration, with the association calling for stronger measures to protect lives and property across Kaduna State.

It advocated improved security arrangements, the deployment of modern digital technologies to strengthen security operations and closer collaboration among federal and state security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and residents.

The association noted that security was particularly important to rural communities, where farming, trade and other economic activities depend on the protection of lives, property and livelihoods.

It urged sustained attention to the security challenges affecting communities, stressing that a peaceful environment would help residents pursue their economic activities and contribute to the state’s development.

Infrastructure, agriculture and transportation

On infrastructure, the association highlighted the need for improved roads, public facilities and other essential services, particularly in rural areas.

It also identified affordable and efficient transportation as a priority for connecting communities to commercial centres, facilitating trade and improving mobility.

The representatives further emphasised the importance of agricultural development, describing farming as a major source of livelihood for households across Kauru and Lere.

They called for sustained policies to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen rural economies, expand employment opportunities and support skills acquisition and youth development.

According to the association, investment in education, agriculture and human capital would be essential to achieving meaningful economic progress and improving living conditions across the two local government areas.

The group said its endorsement was informed by these development considerations and its preference for continuity in the implementation of policies it believes could benefit the communities.

Gaskiya Network coordinates endorsement exercise

The organisers said Gaskiya Network (ASUJ) 2027, coordinated by its National Coordinator, Philibus Audu Nwamagyi, facilitated consultations and provided the platform for the participating stakeholders to present their positions ahead of the elections.

The network also sponsored and coordinated the press conference, which provided an opportunity for the community representatives and education stakeholders to publicly communicate their political preferences.

While ANCOPSS focused its declaration on education and teachers’ welfare in Kaduna State, the Kauru-Lere Development Association presented a broader assessment covering governance, security, reconciliation, infrastructure, agriculture and economic development at both federal and state levels.

The two statements, however, did not provide membership figures for the participating associations or independent evidence of the extent of support for the endorsed candidates among the wider populations of Kauru and Lere.

The declarations represent the stated positions of the participating organisations and their representatives ahead of the 2027 elections.

The groups concluded by reaffirming their commitment to peaceful coexistence, community development and participation in the democratic process, while urging sustained attention to policies and programmes they consider important to the welfare of their members and the wider public.