The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election, pledging to mobilise support across all 774 local government areas of the country. The declaration was made on Sunday in Abuja by Musa Maitakobi, President of RTEAN, during a visit by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Jagaban Squad, where he was also installed as Life Patron of the group.
Speaking to members of the delegation, Maitakobi emphasised the association’s organisational strength and nationwide reach, saying RTEAN’s leadership exists in every state and local government. He told journalists that the group is committed to ensuring electoral victory for Tinubu and the APC when the campaign officially begins. “RTEAN chairmen in every state are fully committed to ensuring victory for the APC. Once the campaign officially begins, our mobilisation efforts will be intensified,” he said.
As part of its support strategy, RTEAN announced it would donate a fully branded bus to the Jagaban Squad, fitted with the group’s identity and images of President Tinubu, to serve as a mobile platform for promoting activities within the Federal Capital Territory. Maitakobi added that discussions were underway with party stakeholders to secure additional buses to broaden outreach efforts nationwide ahead of the general election.
Maitakobi described RTEAN as one of the most organised political support structures in Nigeria, with functional leadership at every local government level, a factor he said positions the association as a critical grassroots mobilisation force. He announced plans to convene a national convention to publicly reaffirm the association’s political direction and continued backing of President Tinubu.
Reflecting on RTEAN’s political activism, Maitakobi recalled the group’s early endorsement of Tinubu ahead of the 2023 presidential election, highlighting its presence at campaign rallies in Jos, Kano, Ogun, Jigawa and other states. “At the presidential campaign rally in Jos in 2023, we were present in our uniforms. We were also seen in Kano, Ogun, Jigawa and many other locations across the country,” he said.
He also spoke candidly about the personal costs of his political allegiance, revealing that his house in his home state was demolished, which he implied was linked to his unwavering support.
Looking forward to the 2027 polls, Maitakobi vowed that RTEAN’s efforts would exceed what the association achieved previously. “By the grace of God, our focus is now on 2027. Compared to what we did in the past, our efforts this time will be doubled and even multiplied. Those who honoured me as Patron of the Jagaban Squad are determined to show the world that we stand firmly with Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
The RTEAN boss also commended President Tinubu’s initiatives in the transport sector, singling out the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and filling stations across the country as transformative. He underscored the benefits these reforms have delivered to transport unions and operators, including RTEAN and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners.
Maitakobi further expressed optimism about the future establishment of a Transport Bank, akin to sector-focused financial institutions such as the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture, to support operators in the transport industry. He stated that RTEAN has over five million registered members nationwide and pledged the association’s continued loyalty to the Tinubu administration.
In his remarks, Adekunle Alebiosu, National Coordinator of the APC Jagaban Squad, welcomed the partnership, describing RTEAN as a formidable organisation capable of significantly boosting grassroots mobilisation for the APC ahead of the 2027 election cycle. “RTEAN is a formidable organisation with a strong nationwide structure. Its support will significantly boost grassroots mobilisation for the APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election,” Alebiosu said.
He added: “We are confident that this partnership between RTEAN and the Jagaban Squad will yield positive results and contribute immensely to the success of President Tinubu and the APC in the coming election cycle.”
