BY AHMED AKANBI
The Convener of the League of Northern Democrats (LND), Dr Umar Ardo, has predicted that President Bola Tinubu would not get up to 10 per cent of votes in Northern Nigeria in the 2027 presidential election if it is free and fair.
Ardo, a key promoter of the unregistered All Democratic Alliance (ADA), made the claim on Wednesday during ‘Frontline’, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.
He said the president’s dwindling support in the North is tied to worsening insecurity, hunger, poverty and the rising cost of living.
“The Tinubu-led administration’s handling of insecurity remains a major concern in the region, with insurgency and other security challenges continuing to affect communities, farmers and businesses,” he said.
According to Ardo, the security crisis can only be tackled if the Federal Government shows “the political will” and adopts the right strategy, noting that beyond deaths and destruction, insecurity has crippled farming and trade across the region.
The LND convener also faulted the administration’s economic reforms, especially the abrupt removal of fuel subsidy.
He questioned whether ordinary Nigerians have seen any benefit, saying the policy has “drastically depreciated” purchasing power.
“The impact of the reforms has been particularly severe in Northern Nigeria because of the region’s large population of poor people. The economic reform has pushed the people from the state of poverty to destitution,” Ardo stated.
He further raised concerns about political representation, saying the composition of government affects how citizens perceive the administration’s commitment to different regions.
Ardo stressed that Northern voters would judge Tinubu in 2027 based on their lived experiences since 2023, not on past voting patterns.
“The region’s political choices should not be viewed as permanently tied to the voting pattern recorded during the 2023 presidential election.
“If a free, fair and credible election is conducted in Nigeria, Tinubu can’t get 10 per cent of votes in the Northern part,” he said, predicting the President would be “bidding the Presidency goodbye.”