• APC moves to reconcile aggrieved members in Anambra, others
• Oke assures of president’s landslide victory in Ondo

President Bola Tinubu yesterday secured one of the strongest regional endorsements yet for his 2027 re-election bid, as governors, elder statesmen, ministers, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and political stakeholders from the North-East pledged to mobilise massive grassroots support for his second-term ambition and the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the region.

The leaders, drawn from the six North-East states, converged on the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to formally endorse the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, applauding the president’s retaining of Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate and reaffirming their commitment to delivering the region for the ruling party in the next general election.

Led by Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, the delegation also commended Tinubu’s administration for the ongoing infrastructure projects, security interventions and economic reforms, which they said were beginning to transform the region after years of insurgency and underdevelopment.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Zulum described the visit as one of appreciation and renewed political commitment, saying the president’s decision to retain Shettima demonstrated confidence in the North-East and recognition of loyalty, competence and dedicated service.

The governor described Shettima as a dependable deputy who had served the president with distinction over the last three years, adding that retaining him reflected continuity, political maturity and strategic leadership.

According to him, though the APC’s zoning arrangement allowed the president to choose a running mate from any of the three northern geopolitical zones, Tinubu’s decision to retain Shettima further strengthened the confidence of the North-East in his administration.

Zulum also commended leaders from the North-West and North-Central for supporting the decision, describing it as a demonstration of unity within the ruling party.

Beyond politics, the governor praised the federal government’s interventions across the region, citing the ongoing Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Expressway, investments in agriculture, education, youth empowerment and the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) as evidence of the administration’s commitment to rebuilding the North-East.

He further assured the president that the region would spare no effort in mobilising support for his re-election.

Earlier, Kingibe stated that the delegation represented respected leaders whose influence extended beyond politics and whose voices continued to shape public opinion across the region. He added that though many members of the delegation were no longer active politicians, they remained trusted leaders who would continue to explain government policies, rally public support and strengthen confidence in the administration.

Responding, President Tinubu described the endorsement as both emotional and reassuring, saying it reflected the enduring partnership between his administration and the North-East.

He paid tribute to the former National Chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), Bamanga Tukur, recalling the elder statesman’s role in shaping his political philosophy during Nigeria’s struggle for democratic governance.

The president further thanked the governors, ministers, lawmakers, traditional rulers and political leaders from the region for their confidence in his administration and pledged to consolidate ongoing reforms.

Tinubu said his administration had fulfilled key promises made to the North-East, particularly in road infrastructure and security, stressing that sustained collaboration between the federal government and the states remained essential to defeating terrorism and banditry.

According to the president, the country has entered a new phase of economic recovery, and citizens would increasingly benefit from the gains of ongoing reforms.

He also defended his administration’s record on pension payments, saying the government was clearing inherited pension liabilities neglected by previous administrations.

Reaffirming his optimism about the country’s future, Tinubu said: “We have our hands on the plough, and we are not looking back. Through the twists and turns of our democracy, Nigeria will survive. We will continue to find strength in our unity in diversity and chart a path of democratic stability and prosperity.”

MEANWHILE, with eyes set on Tinubu’s victory, the APC has intensified efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, launching a fresh reconciliation drive aimed at uniting aggrieved members in Anambra State as part of its strategy to secure the president’s re-election and strengthen the party’s electoral fortunes.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja yesterday, the APC National Deputy Chairman (South), Dr Benjamin Nwoye, said the National Working Committee (NWC) inaugurated a fact-finding and reconciliation committee to investigate the causes of the lingering crisis in the Anambra chapter, reconcile aggrieved members and recommend lasting solutions.

Nwoye said the committee identified the alleged removal of elected party officials, disputes over candidate substitution after party primaries, litigation instituted without exhausting internal dispute resolution mechanisms and the alleged expulsion of members without a fair hearing as major sources of the crisis.

He also cited perceived marginalisation, poor communication, weak party discipline and struggles for political influence as factors undermining party cohesion, warning that prolonged internal divisions could weaken the APC’s electoral prospects.

According to him, the party’s assignment ahead of the 2027 elections extends beyond Tinubu’s re-election to securing victories for APC candidates in governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly contests across the country, adding that “delivering only the president while losing other elections would weaken our structures and diminish our influence.”

Nwoye stressed that rebuilding unity in Anambra would strengthen the APC’s presence in the South-East and improve its chances of delivering stronger support for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Also, the APC National Woman Leader, Mary Alile Idele, urged members to set aside past grievances, saying that reconciliation was a demonstration of strength rather than weakness.

She said the committee was established to listen to all parties, promote dialogue and find lasting solutions, adding that peace within the party was essential as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.

Equally speaking, the APC National Leader for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Tolu Bankole, appealed to members to resolve their differences quickly, saying the mistakes of the last election must not be repeated.

He commended the efforts of the party’s governorship candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, during the last election, arguing that greater unity among members could have produced a different outcome.

IN the meantime, a chieftain of the APC in Ondo State, Olusola Oke, has dismissed insinuations that President Tinubu and the party will face an uphill battle in the state during the 2027 general elections.

In response to comments by an APC aspirant, Razaq Obe, while featuring on a national television programme a few days ago, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) described the party’s position in the state as unassailable, insisting that Tinubu will record a landslide victory at the polls.

The aggrieved Obe, who lost the party’s Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency ticket, had during the interview raised concerns over the handling of the primary election appeals, stating that Tinubu and other APC candidates risk losing in the state.

He also alleged interference by the national chairman of the party, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in the party’s candidate nomination process.

However, Oke cautioned that such outbursts not only paint the state chapter of the party in a bad light but also undermine the enormous investment made by leaders to secure victory for the president in the forthcoming election.

According to him, the statement attributed to Obe was in stark contrast to the popularity of the APC and President Tinubu in Ondo State. He acknowledged the existence of post-primary disagreements, which he described as a normal feature of political contests, but maintained that such internal squabbles have no bearing on the party’s strength or its preparedness for the general election.

He further warned party members to desist from making unguarded statements that could bring the party into disrepute, urging unity and focus as the election cycle approaches.