A coalition of political stakeholders under the National Political Consultative Group (NPCG) has declared that the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be determined by governors or legislators but by the Nigerian electorate.
Speaking after the group’s second expanded meeting held in Abuja, the NPCG (North) Chairman, Mr. Babachir D. Lawal, sharply criticized what he described as the growing impunity among elected officials.
He accused some of acting unilaterally and making political endorsements without consulting those they represent.
Lawal said, “The electorates hold the ace on who to pick as leaders at all tiers of government in the 2027 poll.”
In what appeared to be a subtle jab at the Senate, the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) led by Senator Hope Uzodimma, and leaders of the National Assembly, who have already expressed support for Tinubu’s second term, the coalition accused them of overstepping their bounds.
They faulted the move as an attempt to usurp the democratic rights of the people: “The impunity of elected leaders who run away with the people’s mandate by purporting to make decisions for their constituents without consultation.”
“This act of endorsing other persons and themselves for re-election to political offices without reference to their constituents,” the group noted, “must be resisted.”
The coalition urged the public to hold these leaders accountable through the ballot: “The electorates should sanction them to serve as a deterrent to others who may follow the same path in the future.”
Looking ahead, the NPCG revealed plans to unveil a political platform that will prioritize the North’s interests and promote capable leadership in both political and public sectors.
“The region and indeed the nation need selfless leaders in the management of political parties and public sector governance,” Lawal emphasized.
To that end, the group resolved to extend its strategy across the 19 northern states and the FCT, using what it called an “appropriate template.”
As part of their broader vision, the coalition stressed the urgency of regional development.
“The region must prioritise and promote industrialisation and high productivity in all sectors in order to exit the present economic quagmire.”
Furthermore, they called for binding agreements from candidates seeking Northern support: “The North must premise its support for candidates at elections on enforceable agreement for the purpose of ensuring and protecting the informed interests of the region, irrespective of where the candidates come from.”
To implement its decisions, the group announced the formation of committees focused on execution.
The meeting gathered key political figures from across all 19 northern states and the FCT, with insecurity topping the agenda.
A keynote address was delivered by former Attorney General Abubakar Malami SAN, while goodwill messages were shared by notable leaders from other regions, including Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (South-South), Mr. Peter Obi (South-East), and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (South-West).
