Politics

Buhari’s voting bloc falls apart as followers pitch tents

Published

1 year ago

July 28, 2025

The passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari has created a vacuum in the All Progressives Congress, sparking concerns about how the party or other political parties will inherit the ex-leader’s millions of voters in the North in the coming election, ISMAEEL UTHMAN and MUHAMMED LAWAL write

With the departure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who had cult-like following and controlled millions of votes in the northern part of the country, the All Progressives Congress, which was the party of the former president, stands at the threshold of losing a reasonable percentage of Buhari’s supporters. Before his death, many of Buhari’s loyalists, including former ministers who served with him and former governors, had distanced themselves from the APC. This is as the Congress for Progressive Change bloc of the party was also reported to be planning defection.

While the APC is the original benefactor of Buhari’s popularity, the opposition parties are also hoping to profit from the “12 million votes” of the ex-president after his death.

Buhari, who contested five presidential elections between 2003 and 2019, lost three times before finally clinching victory in 2015 and securing re-election in 2019.

In the 2003 presidential election, Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party polled 12,710,022 votes but received 6,605,299 votes in 2007. The ex-president, who contested under the Congress for Progressive Change in 2011, garnered 12,214,853 votes. However, he won his election in 2015 under the APC, polling 15,424,921 and 15,191,847 votes for his re-election in 2019. He consistently won Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, Borno, Gombe and Niger in all the elections to maintain his magical 12 million votes.

In a recent interview, a former Secretary to the State Government, Babachir Lawal, argued that the emergence of the APC only added three million votes to Buhari’s election in 2015, suggesting that the late president had his 12 million votes intact.

Similarly, a civil liberty advocate, Senator Shehu Sani, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, also said the majority of the northern people considered Buhari a messiah, hence they consistently voted for him and considered anybody opposing him as being against northern interests.

He said, “Buhari’s support is different from the kind of support other politicians have in the North today. His support is a kind of cult following. When Buhari was a presidential candidate, any other northerner vying for that position was seen to be a devil. When Buhari was the president, any person criticising him was seen to be anti-North or anti-Buhari. At the peak of his popularity, Buhari became like a deity, and criticising him was viewed by the common people as a form of blasphemy.”

A former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), acknowledged Buhari’s strong political base, saying, “With the passing away of Buhari, politics in Nigeria will certainly change — I hope for the better.”

However, the shepherd is now dead and the sheep are scattered. The development has brought about an imminent power struggle, as political forces across party lines are already positioning themselves as Buhari’s true friends, allies, and supporters so that the ex-general’s followers will identify with them during election time.

Before his death, both the APC and the opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were battling for the ex-general’s support ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Political analysts argue that a key strategy for the APC to control Buhari’s followers is to retain the CPC bloc of the party, though some of them have joined the African Democratic Congress.

According to the analysts, leaders of the defunct CPC were seen by thousands of northern voters as Buhari’s disciples; hence, they may tend to follow them during elections. Sunday PUNCH notes that notable members of the defunct CPC who are still in the APC include former Senate President Ahmed Lawan, ex-governors of Nasarawa and Katsina states, Tanko Al-Makura and Aminu Masari, former Minister of Education Adamu Adamu, and ex-member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Aliyu, among others.

But many of the old CPC members who served with Buhari have left the APC. Leading the team are the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; and immediate past governor of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai. The late president’s ex-ministers, Rotimi Amaechi and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who were not part of the CPC bloc, have also joined the ADC.

Sunday PUNCH learnt that tensions have begun to surface between the APC and the ADC, with both parties vying to attract Buhari’s political base. Sources told our correspondents that the APC was already worried about Buhari’s demise and how it is going to impact Tinubu’s election in 2027.

Of the 8,794,726 votes Tinubu got in the 2023 presidential election, 5,346,686 came from the northern region. His close rival, Atiku, polled 5,229,473 in the North. Tinubu won six northern states of Jigawa, Zamfara, Kogi, Niger, Benue and Borno. Political analysts argue that with Buhari’s demise, APC might find it difficult to mobilise voters, especially in the face of the purported resentment against the Tinubu’s administration in the region.

An insider at the APC national secretariat who spoke with one of our correspondents stated that the party leaders’ major worry was how not to lose “too much” of Buhari’s followers to the coalition.

“It is a discussion among the leaders. Before the secretariat was shut, the implication of Buhari’s death was a major discourse. Even till now, our major concern is how not to lose too much of the ex-president’s followers to the coalition.”

But the Chairman of the North-Central APC Forum, Saleh Zazzaga, allayed the fear, saying there had not been “proper election” when Buhari was polling 12 million votes, suggesting that the former president might receive fewer votes if he contested now.

“The time that President Buhari secured 12 million votes, there had not been a proper election. In the past elections, the margin of the winner was usually eight million votes. President Tinubu did not win by this margin because there was an election.

“Those that have the capacity are with the APC, and they are going nowhere. Someone like Al-Makura, who is the current leader of the CPC bloc, is with President Tinubu, and he is going to add value to the 2027 journey,” he said in an interview with Sunday PUNCH.

Also commenting on Buhari’s political influence, the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Council, Zaid Ayuba, said the late president’s votes could become extinct, as politics was measured by presence.

He noted that when there was no clear direction, people tended to follow their own interests.

Ayuba said, “Politics is a game of interest. When one is alive, they play politics; immediately one is no more, the interest will always be divided. The 12 million votes belonging to the late president can no longer be controlled.

“Even if he were alive, those 12 million votes could not be channelled in one direction. This is because people are now politically aware. The level of political socialisation in the North has grown beyond how it is perceived. People align with what suits their interests. This means that loyalty and likeness are submitted to anybody they relate with.”

While acknowledging that the North was a staunch supporter of Buhari, Ayuba noted that the people felt betrayed by his performance, which he said put an end to the purported millions of votes the ex-general was controlling.

“Buhari enjoyed massive solidarity from the North in the past, where people saw him as a messiah. In 2019, some people felt he underdelivered, and from that moment, their entire perception changed. This made the 12 million votes a past glory. Currently, no man or politician can puff their chest and say they can deliver this number of votes.

“Northern Nigeria may decide to submit their bloc votes to wherever they feel, especially if the appeal is in relation to regional solidarity. By 2027, a lot of preaching will happen in the North, and people will begin to come out,” he stated.

Asked whether Al-Makura could gather enough support for Tinubu if picked as the APC’s next national chairman, Ayuba said the former Nasarawa State governor did not have Buhari’s political influence in the North.

According to him, Al-Makura was only known in two states in the North.

He said, “If Al-Makura emerges as the National Chairman of the APC, his influence remains in Nasarawa State and Abuja. The moment one crosses these two places, nobody knows him, especially political players, let alone voters. Only Buhari enjoyed the massive political solidarity.

“People were usually surprised whenever he was on the ballot, asking where votes were coming from. Now that he is no longer alive, politically, things have fallen apart. The centre has broken, and there is nobody in the North that can boast of three to four million votes again. There is nobody that can shake the political reign of this region like the late president.”

Similarly, Sani said Tinubu would win his second term in the North despite Buhari’s death. According to him, Tinubu has no strong opposition to his re-election in the region.

“I have no doubt that President Tinubu will win his 2027 election. Because I have not seen any credible, strong, and viable opposition that can counter his support base in northern Nigeria,” he said.

When contacted to comment on how Buhari’s death would impact the 2027 presidential election in the North, a former minister and one of the leaders of the ADC said he couldn’t speak on record because some people would believe he was disrespecting Buhari in death.

The ex-minister, who is one of Buhari’s loyalists, said, “I cannot speak on record because we are still mourning our late principal. If I grant any interview now, many of our people will think I am disrespecting Baba in his grave.

However, his death is a huge loss to us, but we believe thousands, if not millions, of those who usually voted for him identify us as his disciples, and we will not disappoint them. We will galvanise Baba’s followers and ensure that they make the right choice in 2027.”

He promised that all the political structures of the late president would be maintained.

“Truly, Baba has gone with his 12 million votes and we cannot have that again. But the talakawas and other structures who always rallied round Baba will not be discarded; we will maintain them,” he said.

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Ademola Adeleke reveals no deal with APC to share legislative seats in 2027

Published

7 hours ago

October 30, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has denied entering into any agreement with the All Progressives Congress to share legislative or local government positions in the state.

Adeleke, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday, said the clarification became necessary following social media reports alleging that a deal with the Presidency ahead of the 2027 general elections included the sharing of political positions.

According to the reports, local government positions, as well as Senate, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly seats to be contested in 2027, had been shared between the Osun Accord and the state APC.

The governor, who reaffirmed his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, said negotiations to resolve the local government crisis were aimed at protecting the interests of both APC chairmen and elected Peoples Democratic Party chairmen and councillors.

He described reports of a position-sharing arrangement as “mere fabrication and fake news.”

The statement read, “As the governor of all Osun indigenes and residents, we are working to resolve the local government matter by ensuring that all interests are protected and cared for.

“As of now, all stakeholders agree that restoring grassroots governance is a condition for our successful campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.”

Adeleke assured that the local government crisis would be resolved before the end of the year, stressing that he had not entered into any agreement to share legislative seats with the Osun APC.

“What unites the coalition partners is only the presidential election.

“As I said while inaugurating the Presidential Campaign Council, the coalition is targeted at the presidential election. Partners agreed to join hands to ensure our dear President is re-elected.

“All other legislative positions are open for competition. I will work and campaign for Accord candidates for Senate, House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly.

“I urge all political parties to campaign for their candidates as I will do for Accord candidates. We have no deal on the National Assembly and the state Assembly elections. All our candidates will face the electorate, who have the final say,” he said.

On Thursday, the governor insisted that the ‘Rainbow Coalition’ championed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to garner votes for Tinubu would not cause confusion among Osun voters in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking in Ede while inaugurating the campaign committee for the re-election of the Osun West Senatorial candidate of the Accord, Lere Oyewumi, Adeleke, represented by the Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, described Oyewumi, who currently serves as the Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, as a quality representative with enviable records of service.

He added that the lawmaker had made the state proud, saying his re-election had been made easy by his track record of effective representation and performance since his election into the National Assembly.

He appealed to members of the committee to work with total commitment to ensure victory for the party in the poll.

The governor said, “On the rumour going around in town about ‘Rainbow Coalition,’ don’t let that give us any headache. Let me state again that we are only going to vote for the All Progressives Congress in the presidential election only.

“The National and State Assembly elections will be for the Accord. There should be no confusion among the voters.

“I want to appeal to the members of the campaign committee to work hard and ensure the victory of Senator Lere Oyewumi. There is nothing like 99.9 per cent loyalty. Your loyalty should be 100 per cent.”

Oyewumi attributed the growing acceptability of Accord in Osun to the leadership and performance of Adeleke.

The lawmaker said his senatorial ambition was long planned, adding that his experience in the Senate had better equipped him for service.

“Adeleke is a pathfinder, and his re-election has shown that Osun people love him, and that love will translate to victory for all Accord candidates in the general election.

“In my three and a half years in the Red Chamber, I have learned a lot. What I thought was not possible has been proven to me to be possible. So I am more prepared, more equipped and more determined to give my best to every community in Osun West Senatorial District,” Oyewumi said.

He promised more infrastructural and social development, adding, “For the people of Osun West, more development is coming – better roads, improved schools and hospitals, clean water, and solar streetlights that will light up every corner of the district.”

Highlighting some of the achievements of the senator since assuming office, the Director-General of the campaign committee, Adesoye Oyetunde, said, “Oyewumi has not disappointed us. Out of the 10 local governments we have in this senatorial district, the senator tarred roads in eight of them. In the remaining two, he has already flagged off construction.

“There is no local government in Osun West where Oyewumi has not built classrooms. In terms of healthcare, farm inputs and other interventions, the senator has done a lot for his people, and I know he will do more.”

The PUNCH earlier reported that Adeleke was appointed by Tinubu as campaign coordinator for the presidential campaign in Osun.

At the inauguration of the 344-member campaign council in the state, however, some prominent APC leaders were absent as Adeleke tasked the team with coordinating Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the state ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Former governor, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola; the APC candidate in the governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji; the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke, among others, were absent.

Former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, however, led other APC chieftains to the event, where Adeleke inaugurated the council.

Those present included the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru; a former National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore; two former deputy governors of Osun State, Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin; Babajide Omoworare; and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun.

Other attendees included the Osun Central Senatorial Leader of the APC, Adeoye Adelakun; former members of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Afolabi; and former Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, Prof. Olu Aina, among others.

Source: punchng.com

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Politics

Peter Obi faults Tinubu campaign posture, questions capacity to govern, read details

Published

7 hours ago

October 30, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, on Thursday alleged that President Bola Tinubu spent over 260 days out of the country but cannot spend 36 days to go round the states of the federation to campaign for next year’s general election.

Tinubu had said that he may not campaign in all 36 states for the 2027 election because governance requires his attention.

But Obi, who declared himself the leading presidential candidate for the 2027 election, said the President did not have the energy and competence to run the country and therefore should pack up and leave Aso Rock, go home and rest.

He stated this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, during a political summit.

“I want President Tinubu to come to Abakaliki to tell the people what he has done in the past three years. I want him to come to Abakaliki to tell you what he used the money he has been borrowing to do for the past three years.

“I want him to come to Abakaliki to tell Nigerians what he has used their money to do. He said he will not come for a campaign.

“President Tinubu has stayed over 260 days out of Nigeria, yet he cannot spend up to 36 days to go round Nigeria to tell the people what he has been doing for the past three years. We will not do that.

“President Tinubu does not have the competence to run Nigeria. He does not have the energy to run Nigeria. He should pack his things, go home and rest,” Obi said

He warned against dividing the South-East and declared that he was seeking votes of the electorate as a Nigerian who is eminently qualified for the presidency.

“Let nobody divide the South East. I don’t want the people of Ebonyi to vote for me because I am from the South East. I don’t want you to vote for me because I am an Igbo person.

“My dear people, I want you to vote for me because I am qualified to be the President of this country. I want you to vote for me because I am the leading candidate,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor said he would declare an emergency on hunger, insecurity, education, corruption, health, power and other challenges confronting the nation and threatened to jail anyone who embezzled public funds if he emerged as President.

“We will declare an emergency on about seven items. Number one is that we must unite Nigeria. We don’t want people to be around Nigeria saying, I am Igbo, I am Yoruba, I am Hausa, I am this, I am that.

“We must unite this country; our pride should not be based on considerations of employment, this or that. We will operate federal character for all the jobs we have. So, we must unite the country.

“We will declare an emergency on the security of lives and property in Nigeria. We will deal with insecurity decisively. Nobody will be in charge; we will be in charge.

“Let me assure you today, if I am President of this country, kids come to school, and somebody takes them into the bush, we will be in the bush with such persons. They will not be there alone; we will be there with those kids. We will defend the country because we are going to equip the security agencies to make sure that our country is safe.

“We will declare an emergency in corruption. I will fight corruption like nobody has fought it before. Public money must be used for public good; nobody will steal our money again. If you do it, you will go to jail, starting with the President.

“We will declare an emergency in the education sector. We have over 18 million children out of school; we must reduce it. We will declare an emergency on hunger. We have vast lands; our farmers must go back to farming, be able to cultivate, give us what we eat and be able to export. We will do that.

“We will declare an emergency in health. We must have functional healthcare in all the political wards of Nigeria. Every ward must have it; we have the resources to do it,” Obi stated.

Source: punchng.com

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Politics

Sharafadeen Alli faults Makinde as doctors strike grounds hospitals

Published

7 hours ago

October 30, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli, on Thursday assured all categories of workers in the state of prompt payment of salaries, allowances and all other entitlements, if elected in the 2027 election.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity of Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation, Bisi Oladele, in Ibadan, the state capital.

His assurance came on the heels of industrial actions by medical and dental officers in the state employ and lecturers at Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso.

While medical workers’ strike commenced on Monday, members of the LAUTECH branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities started an indefinite strike on Thursday.

The strike has left patients in public hospitals helpless and essential healthcare services unavailable to the people of the state.

Condemning Governor Seyi Makinde for ignoring doctors’ and lecturers’ strike and continuing with his presidential campaign, Alli accused him of insensitivity to the plight of the masses and thousands of students attending the institution.

Alli described the industrial actions as deeply troubling, particularly against the backdrop of persistent complaints about inadequate medical personnel, poor equipment and deteriorating facilities in government-owned hospitals across the state.

Assuring prompt payment of workers’ salaries and entitlements when elected, Alli, according to the statement, questioned how a government that repeatedly proclaims workers’ welfare as its priority could allow disputes involving payment of allowances and implementation of the 2025 FG-ASUU agreement to degenerate into industrial disputes, thus hampering critical healthcare and education service delivery.

The SSACO noted that the demands made by members of the Association of Medical and Dental Officers were not unreasonable as they concerned the payment of outstanding allowances and the restoration of salaries of medical personnel transferred from field assignments to the Ministry of Health.

The organisation said Alli was particularly concerned that the industrial action involved the already overstretched medical workforce in the state, warning that the withdrawal of their services would further worsen healthcare delivery in public hospitals.

“At a time when Oyo State Government hospitals are struggling with shortages of medical personnel, inadequate equipment and other operational challenges, the state can ill-afford the prolonged withdrawal of services by its doctors and dental officers.

“The consequences are borne not by government officials who can afford private medical care, but by ordinary citizens, particularly pregnant women, children, pensioners and low-income families who depend on public healthcare facilities.

“Every additional day of this strike raises serious concerns about access to emergency treatment, continuity of care and the welfare of vulnerable patients.

“Worse still, Governor Makinde has chosen the comfort of a political jamboree in the South East over the urgent responsibility of safeguarding the health and lives of his people and the education of future leaders.

“Rather than remain at his duty post to resolve a crisis that has further crippled an already struggling public healthcare and education system, the governor is busy chasing the mirage of an illusory presidential ambition.

“It is the height of misplaced priorities for a governor who endlessly trumpets his commitment to workers’ welfare. For Makinde, the allure of presidential power appears to have eclipsed the solemn obligations of his present office.

“Oyo deserves a governor focused on governance, not one distracted by the intoxicating but increasingly unrealistic dream of occupying Aso Rock,” the statement said.

The campaign organisation appealed to the striking medical personnel and lecturers to remain open to meaningful dialogue while recognising their right to pursue legitimate employment demands through lawful means.

It further called for immediate contingency arrangements to protect patients requiring emergency and life-saving medical attention for the duration of the industrial action, stressing that the health and lives of Oyo State residents must remain paramount.

“Unlike Makinde, Alli will place the welfare of healthcare professionals, education and the wellbeing of the people at the heart of his administration.

“His government will prioritise prompt payment of salaries and allowances, constructive engagement with medical personnel and the provision of modern equipment and essential facilities in public hospitals,” the statement concluded.

Source: punchng.com

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