The President General of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, has stated that the northern region has not reached a consensus on whether to support President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid in 2027.
This comes after Mamman Osuman, the suspended National Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, recently declared that the north would back a candidate from the region against Tinubu to address the nation’s ongoing hardship.
In an interview with *Saturday PUNCH*, Shettima clarified that while discussions are ongoing, the north is still assessing Tinubu’s performance before making a collective decision.
“The north has not taken any position against Tinubu yet,” Shettima remarked. “But those who are not satisfied with his government have the right to voice their anger. As it stands today, there is no collective decision by the north on Tinubu.”
He emphasized that some northern stakeholders are urging the president to implement more people-friendly policies to address the concerns of Nigerians. “We encourage Tinubu to make changes that will put smiles on the faces of Nigerians,” he added.
When asked about the possibility of supporting a northern candidate in 2027, Shettima said, “I want somebody from the north to succeed Tinubu after eight years if he does well. But if he doesn’t, we will collectively work against him. For now, there is no reason to gang up or make any decisions of that sort.”
The north’s strong political influence is expected to play a critical role in the 2027 elections, with stakeholders closely monitoring Tinubu’s policies and governance.
