Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against taking political support in northern Nigeria for granted ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Oseni said on Monday during The Morning Show that public displays of loyalty and cash handouts to voters might not translate into electoral support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He argued that the ruling party could be surprised by the outcome of the elections if it assumes that the enthusiasm shown by crowds at political gatherings reflects widespread satisfaction with the Federal Government.
“Because you are giving tonnes of people money in the North, they are shouting your name, they are saying everything is well. Elections will shock you. Do not deceive yourself,” Oseni said.
“The North is not happy with this administration,” he added.
The broadcaster acknowledged that his assessment could be criticised as a generalisation but maintained that it was based on his observations of public sentiment and political developments in the region.
He said his comments reflected his attempt to gauge the mood of voters in northern Nigeria rather than the findings of a single scientific survey.
Oseni also questioned the level of commitment the APC could expect from governors who defected to the party following the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, some of the governors might have joined the ruling party because of the difficulties facing their former political platform rather than a strong commitment to the APC.
“Will the APC be able to trust the complete commitments of the governors that came to the fold of the APC because of the disintegration of the PDP? That’s another factor,” he said.
He described the political arrangement as a “strange marriage arrangement” and questioned whether the governors would give the APC their full support during the 2027 elections.
Also Read: Wike’s rainbow coalition deepens political tensions ahead Of 2027
Oseni’s comments come amid political realignments ahead of the next general elections, with parties seeking to strengthen their positions and build alliances across the country.
However, his assessment of northern voters’ sentiment and the commitment of governors who defected to the APC was presented as his personal opinion, not as a conclusion established by comprehensive polling data.
