Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has claimed that he holds a stronger bloc of votes in Northern Nigeria than several prominent politicians expected to run in the 2027 presidential election. In an interview with Arise News on Wednesday, Mr. Abubakar compared his electoral influence to that of Rabiu Kwankwaso, Nasir El-Rufai, and Aminu Tambuwal, asserting that none of them has achieved the level of support he has garnered over the years. “I’m more popular than all of them,” he stated. “Can you tell me among the current leaders in the North who has secured more votes than I have? You are talking about people like Tambuwal, Kwankwaso, and El-Rufai; none of them has amassed the kind of bloc votes that I have.”
Mr. Abubakar further suggested that Mr. Kwankwaso’s electoral strength is primarily limited to Kano State, where he noted that support is now divided between Kwankwaso and the incumbent governor, Abba Yusuf. “Kwankwaso only got votes from Kano, and we respect that; that is why he is a leader in the coalition. But even Kano itself is now split between him and his own governor,” he explained.
Additionally, Mr. Abubakar emphasized the importance of the emerging political coalition, which he described as a new direction for the country. He stated that this alliance unites experienced politicians and younger actors under a single platform, incorporating members from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Labour Party. “What makes it different this time is that we now have a broad coalition, from APC, PDP, NNPP, and Labour. That has never happened before,” he noted, adding that the alliance reflects what he sees as a clear succession pattern leading up to 2027.
These remarks come amid increasing speculation regarding the 2027 presidential race, with various northern politicians positioning themselves for potential candidacies. Mr. Abubakar’s comments highlight his intention to remain a key figure in Nigeria’s political landscape and to leverage his established support base in the North as coalition discussions progress.
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