Shettima: Northern Support for Tinubu’s Re-election Must Be Earned Through Results, Accountability
Shettima: Northern Support for Tinubu’s Re-election Must Be Earned Through Results, Accountability
Shettima: Northern Support for Tinubu’s Re-election Must Be Earned Through Results, Accountability
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said growing support in Northern Nigeria for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 should not be taken for granted, stressing that the administration must earn public confidence through transparency, accountability and measurable results.
Shettima made the remarks on Saturday in Abuja while unveiling the Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A) Campaign Head Office and inaugurating the campaign structure of the Northern political group ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He said the region’s support for Tinubu carried a responsibility for the government and its supporters to engage Nigerians honestly on the administration’s reforms and demonstrate their impact on security, livelihoods and economic opportunities.
According to the Vice President, political confidence must be sustained through accountability rather than treated as an unconditional endorsement.
He acknowledged that Nigerians had endured difficult economic adjustments, warning campaigners against dismissing legitimate public concerns or relying solely on political slogans to defend government policies.
Shettima said the experiences of traders facing rising costs, graduates searching for jobs and families struggling with daily expenses must remain central to government decisions.
He also described criticism as an essential component of democracy, insisting that the administration must remain open to constructive ideas regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion or region.
The Vice President urged the A4A campaign structure to serve not only as an election platform but also as a channel through which citizens could communicate their concerns to government officials and receive responses.
He identified security, economic opportunities, poverty reduction, education and stronger public institutions as key priorities, adding that the responsibility of governance continued beyond election campaigns.
Earlier, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin said the inauguration of the A4A structure came at a time when Northern Nigeria needed a platform to mobilise support for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in the 2027 elections.
He expressed confidence that the organisation would help communicate what he described as the administration’s achievements and development initiatives across the region.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, moved a motion calling for Northern support for the President’s re-election bid. He attributed the support to Shettima’s inclusive leadership and the administration’s projects and appointments involving leaders from the region.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, urged the North to approach the 2027 elections with what he described as wisdom and evidence rather than sentiment. He highlighted the region’s role in promoting national unity and development.
Speaking on behalf of Northern governors, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said the region would support the Tinubu-Shettima ticket based on its assessment of the administration’s performance. He cited fairness, equity, national unity and progress as considerations underpinning the region’s position.
In his welcome address, A4A Director-General and former Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Mohammed Badaru said the group was established out of its conviction that Tinubu and Shettima deserved another term based on their performance.
Badaru assured the President and APC leadership that the organisation would take its message of continuity to communities across Northern Nigeria through its regional network.
The event was attended by members of the National Assembly, ministers, presidential aides, heads of government agencies, former governors and other prominent figures from Northern Nigeria.
Shettima: Northern Support for Tinubu’s Re-election Must Be Earned Through Results, Accountability
