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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

2027: Tinubu has support of almost 35 govs, says Buba Galadima

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Chieftain Buba Galadima claims 34 of Nigeria's 36 state governors support President Bola Tinubu.
  • Galadima stated Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed is undecided, while Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde is the only one firmly against Tinubu.
  • The claim follows a period where the ruling APC has expanded its control over state governorships.

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Buba Galadima, asserted that President Bola Tinubu commands the support of nearly all of Nigeria’s 36 state governors. Galadima claimed that 34 governors are firmly in Tinubu's camp, with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed being the sole undecided figure, described as "on the fence."

President Tinubu has 34 and a half governors. The only governor that is not with him is Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. Alex Otti of Abia State is there. Forget about that.

— Buba GaladimaGaladima's assertion about the number of governors supporting President Tinubu.

Galadima spoke Friday at the inauguration of the NDC reconciliation committee. He identified Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as the only governor completely outside Tinubu’s support base. He also categorized Abia State Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party as aligned with the President, while referring to Governor Mohammed as the "half" governor, suggesting he was advised against defecting to a party with a strong presidential candidate.

"Bala Mohammed is on the fence. He may work with us, or he may work with President Tinubu," Galadima stated. This assertion comes amid a significant political realignment in Nigeria, where the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has increased its gubernatorial control to 31 out of 36 states. This expansion has been fueled by numerous defections from opposition parties, including the PDP and the NNPP.

The half is Governor Bala Mohammed. We met with him until 3am, and he was supposed to defect the next day, but he called us in the morning saying he has changed his mind because he was advised not to move to a party with a strong presidential candidate.

— Buba GaladimaGaladima explaining the situation with Governor Bala Mohammed.

Several opposition governors have publicly declared their support for Tinubu's potential 2027 re-election bid. Charles Soludo of Anambra, from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has repeatedly endorsed the president, viewing APGA and APC as ideological allies. Similarly, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, representing the Accord Party, has openly backed Tinubu, calling him "our own son, father and leader."

Bala Mohammed is on the fence. He may work with us, or he may work with President Tinubu

— Buba GaladimaGaladima describing Governor Mohammed's political stance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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