By The Evangelist news Editor
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s path to re-election in 2027 is growing increasingly uncertain, as deepening fractures within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a brewing North-South revolt threaten to derail his political ambitions. The forced resignation of APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, has laid bare the internal discord and strategic miscalculations plaguing the Tinubu-led administration.
Ganduje’s abrupt exit from the party’s top leadership position is widely viewed as part of a desperate attempt by Tinubu to recalibrate his political standing amid rising dissent from key Northern blocs. Critics argue that Tinubu’s presidency has so far alienated many of the power brokers who helped propel him to Aso Rock, including factions in the North, who now accuse him of betrayal and southern domination of national power structures.
Key among their grievances is the perceived marginalization of the North through controversial policy decisions such as the relocation of strategic federal institutions from Abuja to Lagos and the alleged abuse of federal character principles. Equally troubling to Northern stakeholders is the growing influence of southern political actors such as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, both of whom are seen as wielding disproportionate power in the executive and legislative arms of government, respectively.
The tension reached a boiling point in Yobe State recently, where Northern stakeholders reportedly staged a revolt over plans to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima. The meeting, which ended in chaos, highlighted the depth of discontent in the North East. With talk of Shettima being sacrificed to appease another Northern power bloc, the perception of betrayal continues to harden.
Insiders suggest that Ganduje’s resignation was not voluntary but orchestrated by the presidency to pave the way for a realignment of political forces. Speculation is rife that former Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, may be named as Ganduje’s replacement, while former Kano Governor and NNPP chieftain, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is reportedly being courted to rejoin the APC as Tinubu’s potential running mate.
Yet, many observers believe that these desperate political maneuvers may do more harm than good. Rather than consolidating support, the president appears to be fanning the flames of intra-party rebellion and widening the chasm with the North, a region historically instrumental in determining presidential elections through its numerical voting strength.
During a recent visit to Nasarawa State, President Tinubu dismissed opposition movements as a coalition of “Internally Displaced Politicians”, a phrase many interpreted as a veiled jab at former allies turned critics. However, the reception in Lafia was far from welcoming, with citizens reportedly defacing billboards bearing the president’s image, a symbolic gesture of growing public anger over economic hardship, insecurity, and widespread hunger.
Political analysts warn that even in his southern stronghold, Tinubu is losing ground. With inflation at record highs, unemployment rising, and faith in governance at an all-time low, his support base is eroding. Some polls suggest that if an election were held today, Labour Party’s Peter Obi could outpoll Tinubu across parts of the South, including the South West.
The broader issue, critics say, is not just about North versus South or zoning but about Tinubu’s deviation from the progressive ideals that once defined the APC. The current administration is accused of running a centralized, authoritarian system reminiscent of the same PDP politics Tinubu once vociferously opposed. Many blame the president’s close alliance with Wike and Akpabio for the erosion of democratic norms and the rise of what some describe as “political gangsterism.”
“The change we voted for was about justice, fairness, and a government that worked for the poor,” one political commentator stated. “What we have now is a far cry from that promise.”
As 2027 approaches, Tinubu’s road to re-election is increasingly littered with political landmines. From alienated Northern allies to frustrated southern constituents and a growing anti-Tinubu coalition both within and outside the APC, the president faces a storm of discontent.
And as his administration struggles to reset the national narrative, one thing is clear, the coalition that brought Tinubu to power is fracturing, and the president’s grip on both party and nation is visibly weakening.
