Advertisement
Advertisement
A coalition of prominent northern politicians, former governors, serving and former senators and other political stakeholders has concluded plans to launch a political mobilisation platform, Arewa for Asiwaju, A4A, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The group said it was being established as a structured northern mobilisation platform to coordinate support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to a statement signed by Edwin Olofu, Head of Media Relations of A4A, on Tuesday, the platform would operate through a multi-layered structure comprising national, zonal and state leadership across the North.
The group said its leadership would be anchored by a 14-member Board of Trustees comprising prominent political figures with networks across the North-West, North-East and North-Central regions.
The former Kano State governor and ex-Minister of Education, Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau, will chair the Board of Trustees.
He will be deputised by former Yobe State governor and Minister of Police Affairs, Sen. Ibrahim Geidam, and former Plateau State governor and senator representing Plateau South, Simon Bako Lalong.
Other members of the board include Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Sen. Joshua Dariye, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), Sen. Aliyu Wamakko, former Minister of Transport Isa Yuguda, former Taraba State governor Rev. Jolly Nyame, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello, Hajia Aishatu Dukku and Hajiya Binta Ibrahim.
The statement said former governor and Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, would serve as secretary of the Board of Trustees, assisted by Engr. Abubakar Gambo.
Badaru to lead national operations
The group also named Badaru as Director-General of its National Directorate, placing him at the centre of its operational and political mobilisation strategy.
In that capacity, he is expected to coordinate the group’s activities across the 19 northern states and the FCT, while overseeing various directorates at its national headquarters.
He will be supported by three Deputy National Coordinators representing the three northern geopolitical blocs.
They are former Katsina State governor Ibrahim Shema for the North-West, Yahaya Bello for the North-Central and Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas for the North-East.
The proposed structure also assigns responsibilities to several prominent politicians, technocrats and professionals.
Dr Bala Wunti will head Finance and Resource Mobilisation, with Abdulrahman Leme as deputy, while Sen. Tijjani Yahaya Kaura will head Operations and Logistics, assisted by retired Major-General A.T. Jibril.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz was named Director of Communications and Media Strategy, with Jibrin Baba Ndace as deputy. Edwin Olofu will serve as Head of Media Relations under the same directorate.
Barr. Ismail Ahmed will lead Mobilisation, assisted by Hon. Michael Msuaan.
The Youth Affairs Directorate will be headed by Engr. Abba Aliyu, with Comr. Murtala Gamji as deputy.
Sen. Sani Musa will oversee mobilisation of the business community and professionals, assisted by Dr Shamsuddeen Ahmad.
The Religious Community Directorate will be headed by Malam Abdullahi Mukhtar Mohammad, with Hon. Abubakar Jallo and Rev. Yakubu Pam serving as deputies.
Malam Jalal Arabi, mni, will lead mobilisation among eminent personalities and civil servants, assisted by Sunusi Musa, SAN.
Amb. Bashir Yuguda was named Director of Civil Society Mobilisation, with Hon. Yusuf Capt. Buba as deputy.
Focus on parliament, youth, women, students
The group is also establishing a Parliamentary Mobilisation Directorate, to be headed by Sen. Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, with Hon. Ahmed Alhaji Satomi as deputy.
Bashir Dabo will head Research and Strategy, assisted by Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal.
Engr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu will oversee ICT and the Situation Room, with Dr Khalipha Nuhu as deputy.
The Creative and Entertainment Industry Directorate will be headed by actor Ali Nuhu, assisted by Tukura John Daniel.
The platform also plans to engage traditional rulers, women, academics and students as part of its mobilisation strategy.
Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar will head the Traditional Institutions Liaison Directorate, with Alhaji Abbas Tijjani Hashim as deputy.
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Iman Suleiman, was named Director of Women Mobilisation, assisted by Hajiya Safiya UK Ibrahim and Hajiya Halima Shehu.
Prof. Umar Adam Katsayal, mni, will coordinate Academic Community Mobilisation, with Prof. Sadiya Sani Daura and Prof. Judith Onyefu Dawulung as deputies.
The Students Affairs Directorate will be headed by Zakari Usman Mijinyawa, with Dr Abbas Nafada as deputy.
Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman will serve as Secretary of the platform, assisted by Aliyu Abdullahi Tanko.
State coordinators emerge
Beyond the national structure, the group said it had nominated coordinators for all 19 northern states and the FCT.
The nominees are Alosius Babadoke for Adamawa; Nura Manu Soro for Bauchi; Emmanuel Jime for Benue; Abubakar Inuwa Kari for Gombe; Aminu Sani Gumel for Jigawa; Ahmed Maiyaki for Kaduna; Abdullahi T. Gwarzo for Kano; Muttaqa Rabe Darma for Katsina; Shehu Sarki Kebbi-Jega for Kebbi and Mohammed Yahaya Kuta for Niger.
Others are Yakubu Dati for Plateau; Isa Sadiq Acida for Sokoto; John Musa for Taraba; Muhammed Jami’u A. Asuku for Kogi; Nuruddeen Imam for Kwara; Ahmed Musa (Baraden Nasarawa) for Nasarawa; Muhammed Goni Maulud for Borno; Sulaiman Isyaku for Yobe and Lawal M. Liman for Zamfara.
Shitu Mohammed Kabir was nominated as the coordinator for the FCT.
The group said the extensive structure was designed to provide a coordinated platform for political engagement and mobilisation at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
A formal unveiling of Arewa for Asiwaju is expected to take place in Abuja in the coming days, after which zonal and state-level inaugurations are expected to commence.
The development comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with various political groups and blocs beginning to organise support structures and mobilisation networks across the country.
