Okorie: Tinubu Risks Losing Key Northwest Support in 2027 Without Buhari’s Backing

As the 2027 general elections approach, political maneuvering is heating up in northern Nigeria—particularly around former President Muhammadu Buhari. What may appear to be cordial visits by top northern politicians are, in reality, calculated moves aimed at securing Buhari’s endorsement and building strategic alliances, writes Deputy Political Editor Raymond Mordi.

Despite stepping down from office two years ago, Buhari remains a key political force in the region. Reports from The Nation indicate that behind closed doors, influential figures have been meeting with him in Daura and Kaduna to seek his support ahead of the next polls. Notably, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal recently held a private meeting with Buhari, sparking speculations about shifting loyalties.

Chief Chekwas Okorie of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) argues that Buhari’s political allegiance now leans more toward his former Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) associates than the ruling APC. “I can assure you that Tinubu would lose substantial support in the Northwest in 2027,” Okorie said, stressing that Buhari’s influence could significantly impact the outcome if his allies choose to contest under a new political platform.

Okorie also pointed to the visit by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to Buhari during a period of tension with the APC as a sign of deeper cracks forming within the ruling party—possibly marking the start of a wave of defections that could reshape the northern political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.