A member of the House of Representatives, Abubakar Kabir Bichi, has urged political stakeholders in Northern Nigeria to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, arguing that the region should reciprocate the political support Tinubu provided to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Bichi, who represents Bichi Federal Constituency in Kano State, said Tinubu played a significant role in the political developments that paved the way for Buhari’s victory in the 2015 presidential election.
The lawmaker called on Northern political leaders and voters to recognise what he described as Tinubu’s contribution to Buhari’s emergence as president by mobilising support for the incumbent ahead of the next general election.
Bichi Appeals for Political Reciprocity
Bichi maintained that Buhari’s victory in the 2015 presidential election would not have been possible without Tinubu’s political support and strategic intervention.
He argued that the North should reciprocate that support by backing Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The lawmaker’s position places political reciprocity at the centre of his appeal, suggesting that the alliances that helped shape the 2015 election should influence political calculations ahead of the next presidential contest.
However, the extent to which voters should base their choices on past political alliances, rather than current economic conditions, security and governance, remains a matter of political debate.
Kano North Targets One Million Votes
Bichi also disclosed that political stakeholders in Kano North Senatorial District had resolved to deliver at least one million votes for Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election.
The target reflects an effort by pro-APC political figures to consolidate support for the president in Kano State, one of the North-West’s most politically significant states.
Achieving the target would depend on the party’s ability to mobilise voters, maintain its political alliances and persuade residents to support the president at the polls.
Kano’s political landscape has remained an important factor in national electoral contests, with party loyalties, regional interests and the performance of governments often influencing voting patterns.
Northern Support and the 2027 Election
Tinubu’s re-election campaign is expected to depend partly on his administration’s ability to retain support across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
The North, with its large electorate and diverse political interests, will be particularly important to the contest.
While Bichi has called for voters to reciprocate Tinubu’s past support for Buhari, political opponents are expected to assess the president on other issues, including inflation, food affordability, security, employment and the impact of ongoing economic reforms.
The 2027 election will ultimately provide voters with an opportunity to evaluate competing candidates and their proposals for addressing the country’s challenges.
Bichi’s appeal underscores the role that political alliances, historical relationships and regional mobilisation are likely to play as parties prepare for the next general election.