Shekarau-led Arewa for Asiwaju pledges to mobilise northern voters for Tinubu in 2027

The Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A) movement has pledged to mobilise voters across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to secure President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

The group made the pledge during a meeting with Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

The delegation was led by Ibrahim Shekarau, chairman of the group’s board of trustees (BoT), and Simon Lalong, former governor of Plateau and deputy BoT chairman.

Presenting the group’s mobilisation strategy, Shekarau said A4A was established to complement the APC’s existing structures by deploying experienced political strategists, former governors and legislators to tackle voter apathy and increase turnout in the north.

“What we are doing is adding colour to the APC, which is the mother of all,” he said.

“We are very conscious of the number of voters in the north, which remains the largest in the country. Our objective is to ensure that our voter turnout is not only repeated but significantly expanded compared to previous elections.”

Shekarau said A4A had established more than 20 functional directorates and appointed coordinators across states, local government areas and electoral wards.

He added that the group had compiled a catalogue of Tinubu’s infrastructure projects and policy achievements in the north to counter opposition claims that the region had been neglected by the administration.

Shekarau also invited the APC leadership to the inauguration of A4A’s operational secretariat in Abuja on Saturday, October 17. He said Vice-President Kashim Shettima would perform the commissioning.

Lalong described A4A as a strategic reserve of experienced political figures working in coordination with the APC presidential campaign council.

Yilwatda welcomed the delegation and praised the group’s regional representation and political experience.

He said the presence of former governors, speakers and senate presidents in the movement challenged claims that northern political leaders did not support Tinubu’s administration.

“Anyone from the north who sees the faces in this group feels included,” Yilwatda said.

“Where are the people saying the north doesn’t like Mr President? Is it the former governors, former speakers, or former senate presidents? Most of them are right here in this group. Now we have a unified voice that speaks for the North.”