Akume and Nasarawa governor lead North-Central push to mobilise votes for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election

Senior All Progressives Congress figures have begun a coordinated mobilisation effort in Nigeria’s North-Central region to build grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

The campaign is being led publicly by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule. Multiple reports describe the initiative as a regional drive to consolidate votes behind Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to one report, the mobilisation effort has been organised under a North Central Grassroots Mobilisation Network in which Akume serves as grand patron. Another account says the campaign includes other senior APC figures, among them the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, who is participating in the push to secure strong regional support.

Why the push is happening

The organisers are framing the effort as a bid to maximise the North-Central’s contribution to Tinubu’s re-election. One outlet reports that those involved intend to deliver the highest possible vote total from the region in the January 16, 2027, presidential election. The presence of both federal and state-level leaders signals an attempt to coordinate party structures and local networks across the zone.

Political context and significance

The North-Central zone is viewed as a pivotal area in national elections because of its population size and electoral competitiveness. For the incumbent administration, a strong showing there would help shore up Tinubu’s electoral prospects nationwide. The mobilisation drive also highlights how ruling-party figures are engaging regions early in the campaign cycle, using established officeholders and party operatives to build support on the ground.

What is known and what is reported

• Multiple sources identify George Akume and Abdullahi Sule as the public faces of the North-Central mobilisation. Tribune Online describes Akume as the grand patron of the newly named grassroots network.

• Daily Post reports that Information Minister Idris Mohammed and other senior APC figures are participating and that the campaign’s objective is to secure the highest number of votes from the North-Central for Tinubu in the January 16, 2027, election.

• The reports do not provide a detailed schedule of activities, membership lists for the mobilisation network, or statements from President Tinubu himself. They also do not include independent assessments of how effective the effort might be in changing voter behaviour.

Why it matters going forward

Early regional mobilisation can influence candidate selection dynamics, resource allocation, and the tone of campaigning as elections approach. For Tinubu, consolidating support in a central and contested zone could be strategically important if opposition candidates also target the same constituencies. Observers will be watching for how the network translates endorsements and meetings into voter mobilisation on the ground, and whether opposition parties mount counter-programmes in response.