A coalition of prominent northern politicians and influential stakeholders has unveiled a broad mobilisation structure, Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), to rally support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election.
The group brings together former governors, serving and former senators, ministers, political leaders and grassroots mobilisers across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the group’s Head of Media Relations, Edwin Olofu.
According to the statement, A4A will be formally unveiled in Abuja in the coming days, followed by zonal and state-level inaugurations.
The coalition’s 14-member Board of Trustees is chaired by former Kano State governor and former Minister of Education, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau. Former Yobe State governor and Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Geidam, and former Plateau State governor and senator representing Plateau South, Simon Bako Lalong, are to serve as deputy chairmen.
Other members of the Board include Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Senator Joshua Dariye, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (retd.), Senator Aliyu Wamakko, Isa Yuguda, Reverend Jolly Nyame, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Yahaya Bello, Aishatu Dukku and Binta Ibrahim.
Former Governor of Jigawa State and former Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, was named Secretary of the Board of Trustees, with Engineer Abubakar Gambo as his assistant.
Badaru will also serve as Director-General of the National Directorate, which will oversee the coalition’s day-to-day operations, campaign strategy and coordination of chapters across the northern states and the FCT.
He will be supported by three deputy national coordinators representing the three northern geopolitical zones: former Katsina State governor Ibrahim Shema for the North-West; former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello for the North-Central; and Abdulrazaq Namdas for the North-East.
The structure also includes specialised directorates covering finance, operations, media, mobilisation, youth affairs, business and professional groups, religious organisations, civil society, parliamentary mobilisation, research and strategy, ICT, creative industries, traditional institutions, women, academia and students.
Dr Bala Wunti will oversee Finance and Resource Mobilisation, while Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura will head Operations and Logistics.
The Communications and Media Strategy Directorate will be led by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, with Jibrin Baba Ndace as deputy and Olofu as Head of Media Relations.
Barrister Ismail Ahmed will coordinate mobilisation, while Engineer Abba Aliyu will lead Youth Affairs.
Senator Sani Musa will oversee Business Community and Professionals mobilisation, while Malam Abdullahi Mukhtar Mohammad will coordinate the Religious Community directorate.
The coalition also appointed Malam Jalal Arabi, mni, to lead mobilisation among eminent personalities and civil servants, with Ambassador Bashir Yuguda heading the Civil Society directorate.
Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila will oversee Parliamentary Mobilisation, while Bashir Dabo will lead Research and Strategy.
The ICT and Situation Room will be headed by Engineer Khalil Suleiman Halilu, while actor Ali Nuhu will lead the Creative and Entertainment Industry directorate.
Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar was named coordinator for liaison with traditional institutions, while Minister of Women Affairs, Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim, will head Women Mobilisation.
Professor Umar Adam Katsayal will coordinate Academic Community mobilisation, while Zakari Usman Mijinyawa will head Students Affairs.
The coalition has also established a secretariat headed by Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, with Aliyu Abdullahi Tanko as deputy secretary.
At the state level, A4A named coordinators for all 19 northern states and the FCT, signalling its intention to establish a grassroots mobilisation network ahead of the 2027 election.
The initiative comes as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with parties, political groups and various support organisations beginning to consolidate structures and mobilise voters across the country.
