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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Prominent northern political leaders have moved to build a formidable campaign machinery for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, with former governors Ibrahim Shekarau, Ibrahim Geidam and Simon Lalong picked to lead the initiative ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The coalition, comprising former governors, serving and former senators and other All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders, will operate under the banner of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A).
Conceived as an organised northern vanguard for Tinubu’s re-election, A4A will establish structures across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with national, zonal and state leadership.
A statement by the group’s Head of Media Relations, Edwin Olofu, said a 14-member Board of Trustees (BoT), comprising politicians with networks across the North-West, North-East and North-Central, would provide overall leadership for the organisation.
Shekarau, a former Kano State governor and Minister of Education, was named chairman of the BoT, while former Yobe governor, Geidam, and former Plateau governor, Lalong, will serve as deputies.
Other members listed are Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Joshua Dariye, Buba Marwa, Aliyu Wamakko, Isa Yuguda, Jolly Nyame, Atiku Bagudu, Yahaya Bello, Aishatu Dukku and Binta Ibrahim.
Mohammed Badaru Abubakar will serve as secretary of the BoT, assisted by Abubakar Gambo.
The coalition also announced Badaru as Director-General of its National Directorate, with responsibility for overall campaign strategy and coordination of its structures across the 19 northern states and the FCT.
According to the statement, he will be supported by three deputy national coordinators — Ibrahim Shema for the North-West, Yahaya Bello for North-Central and Abdulrazaq Namdas for North-East.
The group said its extensive structure was designed to drive mobilisation, campaign strategy, communications, logistics and grassroots engagement throughout the North.
“To lead operations of the vanguard, the National Directorate has Badaru Abubakar as Director-General. He will drive overall campaign strategy, coordinate all 19 states and FCT chapters, and oversee various directorates at the national headquarters,” the statement said.
Bala Wunti was named Director of Finance and Resource Mobilisation, with Abdulrahman Leme as deputy, while Tijjani Yahaya Kaura will head Operations and Logistics, assisted by A.T. Jibril.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz will serve as Director of Communications and Media Strategy, with Jibrin Baba Ndace as deputy, while Olofu will also serve as Head of Media Relations.
Ismail Ahmed will head Mobilisation, assisted by Michael Msuaan, while Abba Aliyu will lead the Youth Affairs Directorate, with Murtala Gamji as deputy.
The Parliamentary Mobilisation Directorate will be headed by Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, assisted by Ahmed Alhaji Satomi.
Bashir Dabo was named Director of Research and Strategy, with Bello Lawal as deputy, while Khalil Suleiman Halilu will take charge of ICT and the Situation Room, assisted by Khalipha Nuhu.
The Creative and Entertainment Industry Directorate will be headed by actor Ali Nuhu, with Tukura John Daniel as deputy.
Olofu said the coalition would be formally unveiled in Abuja within days, after which its structures would be inaugurated across the geopolitical zones and states.
“A formal unveiling is expected in Abuja in the coming days, with zonal and state inaugurations to follow,” he said.
