BREAKING: 19 Northern States Political Support Groups Withdraw Support from Tinubu Ahead of 2027

A major political support bloc drawn from northern Nigeria has announced the suspension of its backing for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a development that could have implications for the party’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group, known as the Tinubu Vanguard, comprises members from 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). On Monday, it formally declared the withdrawal of its political activities and support for the president, citing what it described as neglect, lack of recognition and worsening hardship among its members since the APC assumed power.

The decision was made public by the Director-General of the Tinubu Vanguard, Hon. Kamilu Abdullahi Abubakar Maiganji, during a meeting of the group that was also attended by journalists. According to Maiganji, the gathering was convened to critically assess the group’s relationship with the APC-led administration nearly two years after the 2023 general elections.

Maiganji said the support group had invested significant time, energy and personal resources in promoting the candidacy of Bola Tinubu and the APC across northern Nigeria ahead of the last elections. He explained that the Tinubu Vanguard played a strategic role in grassroots mobilisation, particularly in Kano State and other parts of the North, where it ran sustained radio and television programmes aimed at shaping public opinion.

According to him, the media outreach helped to counter scepticism about Tinubu’s candidacy, reshaped public perception of the APC and encouraged many politically disengaged citizens to participate in the electoral process.

“Our efforts were focused on mobilising the grassroots and creating awareness,” Maiganji said. “We went on air consistently, engaging people in their local languages and encouraging them to believe in the party and its candidate.”

He noted that the group did not seek financial rewards or political appointments in return for its support. Instead, he said, its requests to the party and the government were modest and largely logistical.

“We did not ask for money. We only requested a venue, security and accommodation for invited guests, but none was provided,” Maiganji stated.

Despite what he described as a lack of institutional support, the Tinubu Vanguard went ahead to organise and fund its official launch in Kano through contributions from its members. Maiganji said the event was widely attended and well received, not just in Kano but across the northern region, reinforcing the group’s belief that it was making a meaningful contribution to the APC’s electoral success.

However, he lamented that since the elections, the group had felt abandoned and ignored by the party it helped to promote. According to him, repeated attempts to engage party leaders and government officials yielded little or no response, while members continued to grapple with economic hardship.

The announcement comes at a time of growing discontent among various political stakeholders, particularly in the North, over rising living costs and economic reforms that have placed pressure on ordinary Nigerians. Although Maiganji did not directly link the group’s decision to specific government policies, he said the prevailing hardship made the sense of neglect even more painful for loyal supporters.

In a symbolic statement underscoring the group’s decision, Maiganji declared: “From today, we have dropped the broom,” a reference to the APC’s party symbol.

He was quick to clarify that the Tinubu Vanguard has not yet aligned with any other political party. According to him, the group will remain politically inactive until it identifies a platform that genuinely reflects its values.

“We have not resolved to join any other political party,” he said. “We are looking for a platform that truly upholds dignity, accountability and development.”

Political observers say the withdrawal of support by organised groups such as the Tinubu Vanguard highlights the challenges facing the APC as it seeks to consolidate its base ahead of 2027. While it remains unclear whether the group’s decision will translate into a broader shift in voter behaviour, analysts note that grassroots organisations often play a crucial role in shaping local narratives and mobilising voters, particularly in the North.

As the political landscape gradually begins to tilt toward the next election cycle, the APC and the Tinubu administration may face increasing pressure to re-engage with support groups and party loyalists who feel sidelined after the polls. Whether the Tinubu Vanguard’s decision will prompt reconciliation or further defections remains to be seen.