Details have emerged on moves by President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to shore up support in the South and North-Central zones ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Sources within the ruling party say the strategy is aimed at securing large blocs of votes from the two regions as a buffer against growing resistance in parts of the North. The plan, which reportedly began several months ago, followed internal assessments that flagged potential political threats from northern power blocs and an emerging opposition coalition.
Party insiders said senior figures within the Presidency and the APC are coordinating the effort, describing it as a deliberate response to lessons from the 2023 election, when the party lost several states in the South and North-Central.
In recent months, influential northern groups have openly criticised the Tinubu administration over issues such as political appointments, distribution of projects and the handling of insecurity. Some prominent northern politicians and former allies of the ruling party have also been mobilising against the President’s re-election bid.
Although the North contributed a significant share of Tinubu’s votes in 2023, APC strategists are now said to be working to reduce overdependence on the region by consolidating support elsewhere.
Findings indicate that the South has become a major focus of the party’s efforts, with moves to reclaim states won by opposition parties in the last election through political realignments, elite engagement and strategic alliances. Party sources say recent defections and expressions of support from some southern political leaders reflect progress made so far.
The APC is also intensifying efforts in the North-Central, where it lost key states and the Federal Capital Territory in 2023. Consultations are reportedly ongoing with traditional rulers, clerics, youth groups and other stakeholders to rebuild support for the President in the zone.
Leaders of the APC in the North-Central have publicly expressed confidence, saying the region is working closely with the party’s national leadership and the Presidency to deliver a strong result in 2027. Some party officials have projected that the APC could secure between 80 and 90 per cent of votes from the region if the current momentum is sustained.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have dismissed the APC’s plans as ineffective. The Peoples Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress and New Nigeria People’s Party argue that political manoeuvring and defections will not guarantee victory, insisting that voters’ experiences with the current administration will ultimately shape the outcome of the 2027 polls.
