Ayo Oyalowo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asserted that President Bola Tinubu retains strong support in northern Nigeria despite claims to the contrary.
Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, Oyalowo dismissed speculation that Tinubu’s popularity is waning in the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Tinubu has no problem with the North. Today, the North is well represented in this government,” Oyalowo stated, citing key appointments such as the recent naming of the Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), who hails from Kano State.
He argued that criticisms of Tinubu’s northern support base come mainly from individuals “upset because they didn’t get what they were looking for”.
Highlighting recent positive reactions in the North, Oyalowo referenced videos showing students in Sokoto and Bauchi celebrating after the federal government, through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), paid their school fees.
“That video was not from Ogbomoso or Lagos, it was Sokoto. Students came out thanking Tinubu for paying their fees,” he said.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges, the APC figure urged Nigerians not to ignore the progress being made.
He also pointed to public praise for the president by several northern governors, including those of Katsina and Kaduna states.
“Did you listen to the governor of Katsina? Did you hear the governor of Kaduna? These are the leaders in the North right now, and they are informing their people about what Bola Tinubu has done for them,” Oyalowo added.
Although the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been vocally critical of Tinubu’s administration, Oyalowo insisted that “real northern people” still back the president.
