Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has voiced strong confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s prospects for securing a second term in 2027, suggesting that Nigeria’s state governors are unlikely to oppose his reelection due to unprecedented federal support for sub-national governments. Speaking at a conference in northern Nigeria on Tuesday, Sani claimed the Tinubu administration has set a new benchmark for collaboration between federal and local authorities, fostering goodwill among regional leaders.
The governor’s remarks came during the launch of a two-day forum organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF), a regional development body focused on improving governance-citizen engagement. Addressing attendees, Sani argued that Tinubu’s efforts to bolster state and local governance through funding and policy backing had transformed political dynamics. “No president in Nigeria’s history has provided governors and local administrations with the level of support President Tinubu extends today,” he stated. “Based on my interactions, it’s hard to imagine any governor openly contesting his leadership or reelection ambitions.”
The comments signal growing political alignment between Nigeria’s executive branch and state leaders, who often navigate complex power balances across the federation’s three tiers of government. Sani emphasized Tinubu’s responsiveness to regional needs, particularly in northern Nigeria, where infrastructure gaps and security challenges have long dominated policy debates.
Beyond intergovernmental cooperation, the governor highlighted Tinubu’s inclusive approach to policymaking, describing it as a departure from previous administrations. He noted that the federal government had begun systematically consulting civil society groups, traditional leaders, and development experts on national strategies—an approach Sani termed “revolutionary” in Nigeria’s political context. “For the first time, non-governmental voices are actively shaping discussions about the North’s development and broader national issues,” he observed. “This shift could redefine problem-solving in governance.”
The SABMF conference, where these views were shared, aims to foster dialogue between policymakers and citizens—a goal the governor argued aligns with Tinubu’s participatory governance model. While Sani’s optimism reflects his administration’s collaborative relationship with the presidency, analysts note that Nigeria’s political terrain remains volatile ahead of the 2027 elections. The coming months may test whether this stated unity among governors translates into sustained support, particularly as economic reforms and security initiatives unfold across the country’s diverse regions.
