2027: DLA Gov’ship Candidates Endorse Tinubu

A group of governorship candidates of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and other political parties have declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, saying they are prepared to set aside their presidential ambitions to work for his return to office.

The candidates, who spoke during a declaration of support for Tinubu under the platform of Arewa for Asiwaju, said their decision followed an assessment of the achievements of the current administration and a comparison of the available presidential aspirants.

Leading the delegation, Aboki Bayonga, DLA governorship candidate for Taraba State, said the group had resolved to support Tinubu, despite belonging to different political parties.

He said the candidates would mobilise their supporters at the grassroots to ensure the President secured another four-year term in 2027.

According to him, the decision was informed by what they described as the administration’s interventions in agriculture, education and road infrastructure.

“We are here to declare our support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu under Arewa for Asiwaju. In the process, we are dropping our aspiration under our own platforms. But as a persuasion, we are for Asiwaju 100 per cent.

“We will work for him and make sure that Asiwaju comes back in 2027. We will do everything possible to ensure his return,” he said.

Bayode cited the administration’s support for farmers, particularly through the distribution of fertilisers, as one of the reasons for the endorsement.

He also commended the Federal Government’s road construction projects, expressing confidence that the infrastructure being developed would serve the country for years.

The DLA candidate said the group considered the available presidential aspirants before concluding that Tinubu deserved another term to consolidate the policies and projects of his administration.

“Looking at all the presidential aspirants and comparing them, we found out that the present government has a lot of things that, if given another four years, it will achieve, and Nigeria will be better,” he said.

The candidates, however, clarified that their endorsement of Tinubu did not amount to abandoning their respective political parties or adopting the All Progressives Congress (APC) as their platform for other elective offices.

They said they would continue to pursue their governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state assembly ambitions under their existing party structures, while supporting Tinubu exclusively in the presidential election.

Responding to questions on whether the endorsement had the backing of their party leadership, Bayode said the candidates had held a meeting before the declaration and agreed on the decision.

He maintained that their action was not an individual initiative but a collective position reached by the participating candidates.

On the question of how much electoral support the DLA and other parties could mobilise for Tinubu, he argued that political influence was not determined solely by party platforms but also by the grassroots networks of individual politicians.

According to him, the candidates had established political structures and supporters in their respective states, which they intended to deploy in support of the President.

The group also rejected suggestions that its endorsement was restricted to Northern Nigeria, insisting that its members would support Tinubu irrespective of their geographical locations.

Asked to respond to concerns about corruption under the Tinubu administration, Bayode argued that the allegations should be considered alongside the records of other presidential aspirants.

He maintained that the candidates had made their choice after assessing the available options and deciding which leadership they believed would best serve the country.

On concerns that Tinubu’s re-election could lead to a life presidency, the DLA candidate dismissed the fear, arguing that no individual could claim ownership of the country or remain in power indefinitely.

The group said its members would continue to work within their respective political parties while mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Other members of the Forum are: Alhaji Adamu Idrisu Chado, Kaduna State. Hon. Bekky Folorunso James, Osun; Prof. Valdya Tame, Adamawa; Hon. Sam Umar, Plateau; Alhaji Sani Mohammed from Gombe; Hon. Nnamdi Ugwu from Enugu; and Hon. Brent Michael from Bauchi.