A northern youth group, the Arewa Youth Assembly, has declared support for the re-election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, insisting that power should remain in the south until 2031 in line with Nigeria’s zoning arrangement.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the group’s spokesperson, Mohammed Sanni, said attempts to return power to the north before 2031 could destabilise the country’s political balance.
Sanni alleged that some governors within the ruling All Progressives Congress are working against Tinubu’s second-term ambition by trying to create divisions within the Progressive Governors’ Forum.
His comments come amid reported disagreements within the governors’ forum, with camps allegedly backing Hope Uzodimma and Dapo Abiodun for leadership control.
According to Sanni, the political tension mirrors the internal crisis that weakened former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 presidential election.
“The south should complete its tenure by 2031 before power returns to the north,” Sanni said.
He added that most northern governors still support the zoning arrangement and are backing Tinubu’s continuation in office beyond 2027.
The group also accused Peter Mbah and Abiodun of allegedly contributing to the crisis within the APC and called on both governors to apologise to Tinubu, the governors’ forum and the ruling party.
Sanni further urged the state assemblies in Ogun and Enugu to begin impeachment proceedings against the governors over what he described as an “attempted palace coup” within the party.
