Former Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has offered an insight as to why governors of the opposition political parties are moving in droves to the ruling All Progressives (APC).

Ganduje, the immediate past national chairman of the APC, declared that anyone who thinks Northern Nigeria will not support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 is “making a big mistake.”

Ganduje spoke on Friday in Abuja when Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders from all 19 states visited him to appoint him patron of their forum.

“Tinubu is the first President whose upbringing, struggle, and political life have been dedicated to the unity and democracy of this country. There is no better Southern candidate for 2027,” Ganduje said.

Highlighting the administration’s bold reforms, Ganduje said Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy and other economic measures have directly strengthened states’ finances, winning the confidence of governors across political lines.

“All the candidates in 2023 promised to remove the subsidy, and previous governments considered it, but nobody had the courage to do it. Tinubu succeeded. This was not to favour APC governors, but to improve the nation’s economy,” he said.

Ganduje also noted that, before President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, an agreement existed that a Southerner would succeed after eight years of Buhari’s government.

He added that Tinubu’s policies in less than four years have demonstrated visionary leadership.

He commended the youth leaders for their support, both in mobilising votes and raising funds for Tinubu’s nomination.

“Your contribution of time, energy, ideas, and funds to ensure Tinubu’s re-election is truly commendable,” he said.

Earlier, the forum’s National Leader, Murtala Muhammad Gamji, described Ganduje as a role model who empowered youth during his tenure as governor. He assured that youth across the North would back Tinubu in 2027.

The delegation officially decorated Ganduje as Grand Patron of the Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum.