BREAKING: 2027:Those Saying The North Is Rejecting Tinubu Should Know That There Is Not One North – Otubanjo

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According to comments made during an interview on Arise News’ Political Analysis programme on May 28, 2026, Professor Femi Otubanjo has dismissed claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu faces a blanket rejection across northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Otubanjo, who serves as Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, argued that narratives portraying the North as a single voting bloc fail to reflect the region’s political complexity and diversity. According to him, electoral behavior across northern Nigeria varies significantly from one sub-region to another, making broad generalizations inaccurate.

Addressing assertions that Tinubu has lost support across the North, the political analyst maintained that such claims often overlook the distinct political realities within the region. He argued that different zones in northern Nigeria have unique interests, voting patterns, and political considerations that influence electoral outcomes.

In his words, “All those people who talk about the North rejecting Tinubu have never won anything themselves. There is not just one North.”

Otubanjo further explained that the North should be viewed through its various political and geographical divisions rather than as a uniform entity. He pointed to the North-Central and North-East regions as examples of areas where electoral dynamics differ considerably.

According to him, President Tinubu remains well-positioned in parts of the North, particularly in the North-Central region, where he believes the President could secure a strong electoral performance. He also suggested that Tinubu would remain competitive in the North-East despite ongoing political realignments ahead of the next presidential election.

“There is a North-Central where Tinubu will comfortably win. There is a North-East where Tinubu will be competitive. The odds currently favour Tinubu,” he added.

His remarks come amid increasing debate over coalition-building efforts, regional voting patterns, and political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections. Political observers continue to assess how shifting alliances and internal divisions within major regions could influence the outcome of the next presidential contest.

Otubanjo’s position reflects a broader argument among some analysts that Nigeria’s electoral landscape is increasingly shaped by sub-regional interests and local political factors rather than assumptions about unified geopolitical voting blocs.