ABUJA: Northern Nigeria’s political establishment has moved to formalise its support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, unveiling a sweeping mobilisation structure, Arewa for Asiwaju A4A, that draws together former governors, sitting and former senators, ministers and grassroots power-brokers into a single campaign machine spanning all 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory FCT
The development was announced in a statement issued by the group’s Head of Media Relations, Edwin Olofu, on Monday in Abuja, adding that a formal unveiling is expected in Abuja in the coming days, with zonal and state inaugurations to follow
At the apex of the structure sits a 14-member Board of Trustees BOT chaired by former Kano State Governor and ex-Education Minister, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, with former Yobe State Governor and current Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Geidam, and former Plateau State Governor and Senator representing Plateau South, Barrister Simon Bako Lalong, serving as his deputies Rounding out the BOT are Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Senator Joshua Dariye, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd), Senator Aliyu Wamakko, His Excellency Isa Yuguda, His Excellency Reverend Jolly Nyame, Senator Atiku Bagudu, His Excellency Yahaya Adoza Bello, Hajiya Aishatu Dukku and Hajiya Binta Ibrahim, with His Excellency Mohammed Badaru Abubakar doubling as BOT Secretary, assisted by Engineer Abubakar Gambo.
Running the day-to-day machinery is a National Directorate headed by firmer Defence minister, Badaru Abubakar as Director General, tasked with driving overall campaign strategy and coordinating all 19 states and the FCT chapters from the National Headquarters He is backed by three Deputy National Coordinators covering the three Northern geopolitical zones: Barrister Ibrahim Shema for the North-West, Yahaya Bello for the North-Central, and Honourable Abdulrazaq Namdas for the North-East.
Beneath this sits a dense web of specialised directorates Finance and Resource Mobilisation falls to Dr Bala Wunti, deputised by Abdulrahman Leme, while Operations and Logistics is led by Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, assisted by Major-General A.T. Jibril (retd). Communications and Media Strategy is headed by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, with Jibrin Baba Ndace as deputy and Edwin Olofu additionally serving as Head of Media Relations within the same directorate. Mobilisation itself is under Barrister Ismail Ahmed, assisted by Honourable Michael Msuaan, while Youth Affairs goes to Engineer Abba Aliyu, deputised by Comrade Murtala Gamji.
Senator Sani Musa directs the Business Community and Professionals arm, assisted by Dr Shamsuddeen Ahmad, while the Religious Community directorate is in the hands of Malam Abdullahi Mukhtar Mohammad, supported by two deputies, Honourable Abubakar Jallo and Reverend Yakubu Pam Eminent Personalities and Civil Servants mobilisation is led by Malam Jalal Arabi, mni, assisted by Sunusi Musa, SAN, while Civil Society falls under Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, assisted by Honourable Yusuf Capt. Buba.
Parliamentary Mobilisation is headed by Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, assisted by Honourable Ahmed Alhaji Satomi, while Research and Strategy is led by Bashir Dabo, deputised by Honourable Engineer Bello Lawal The ICT and Situation Room directorate is headed by Engineer Khalil Suleiman Halilu, assisted by Dr Khalipha Nuhu, while the Creative and Entertainment Industry directorate is led by Ali Nuhu, with Tukura John Daniel as deputy.
Traditional Institutions liaison rests with Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar, assisted by Alhaji Abbas Tijjani Hashim, while Women Mobilisation is headed by the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Iman Suleiman, supported by Hajiya Safiya UK Ibrahim and Hajiya Halima Shehu
On the academic front, Professor Umar Adam Katsayal, leads the Academic Community mobilisation, assisted by Professor Sadiya Sani Daura and Professor Judith Onyefu Dawulung, while Zakari Usman Mijinyawa heads Students Affairs, assisted by Dr Abbas Nafada The Secretariat is run by Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman as Secretary, assisted by Aliyu Abdullahi Tanko as her deputy.
At the grassroots level, the coalition has named coordinators across all 19 Northern states and the FCT: Honourable Alosius Babadoke (Adamawa), Dr Nura Manu Soro (Bauchi), Honourable Emmanuel Jime (Benue), Honourable Abubakar Inuwa Kari (Gombe), Honourable Aminu Sani Gumel (Jigawa), Honourable Ahmed Maiyaki (Kaduna), His Excellency Abdullahi T Gwarzo (Kano), Engineer Muttaqa Rabe Darma (Katsina), Honourable Shehu Sarki Kebbi-Jega (Kebbi), Professor Mohammed Yahaya Kuta (Niger), Honourable Yakubu Dati (Plateau), Honourable Isa Sadiq Acida (Sokoto), Ambassador John Musa (Taraba), Pharmacist Muhammed Jami’u A. Asuku (Kogi), Alhaji Nuruddeen Imam (Kwara), Rt. Honourable Ahmed Musa, Baraden Nasarawa (Nasarawa), Honourable Muhammed Goni Maulud (Borno), Honourable Sulaiman Isyaku (Yobe), Lawal M. Liman (Zamfara) and Honourable Shitu Mohammed Kabir (FCT).