2027: North-Central leaders ‘take’ push for Shettima’s replacement as VP to ex-NSA Gusau

Prominent figures from Nigeria’s North-Central geo-political zone have intensified efforts to secure greater political representation ahead of the 2027 general elections, calling on President Bola Tinubu to select a running mate from their zone if he seeks re-election.

Over the weekend, a delegation of stakeholders held a private meeting with former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau, as part of ongoing consultations with influential leaders to press for a North-Central presidency.

Others present at the high-level meeting included Senator John Danboyi and the Onah of Abaji, His Royal Highness Alhaji Musa Baba Yunusa.

This development follows a recent press conference where political leaders from the region issued a strong statement of intent, warning they might withdraw support for Tinubu in 2027 unless he drops current Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, in favor of a candidate from the North-Central.

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The delegation was led by Professor Nghargbu K’tso, Chairman of the North-Central Renaissance Movement, who released a statement highlighting the group’s mission.

“The North Central is strengthening advocacy for the return of presidency to the zone come 2027 through high-level consultations with prominent figures in the geo-political zone and Nigeria at large,” the statement read.

“The leadership of the movement was earlier received by the former national security adviser General Aliyu Gusau, Senator John Danboyi and the Onah of Abaji, His Royal Highness Alhaji Musa Baba Yunusa to push for the agenda of North Central Presidency in 2027.”

“We appealed for the cooperation of Nigerians to make the agitation a reality and put the region in the equation of other zones who have enjoyed the constitutional right of producing president and vice president in Nigeria as the zone has what it takes to lead rather than to be led all the times.”

K’tso also emphasized the region’s prolonged political exclusion, stating it has not produced a president or vice president since independence or since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999.

According to him, despite decades of political participation, the North-Central has only held key party positions, while other regions have dominated the nation’s top leadership roles.

The summit, attended by delegates from all six states in the North-Central — Benue, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Niger, and Nasarawa — as well as the Federal Capital Territory, marks a significant escalation in the region’s campaign for national leadership.