In a bold political move that has stirred national attention, Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has publicly declared himself the Director-General of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign. Speaking at a high-level All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders meeting in Minna, Bago announced that Niger State will serve as the official headquarters for the campaign.
“I am now the self-imposed Director-General of the Tinubu campaign for 2027,” Bago stated. “Niger State is the campaign headquarters for Asiwaju 2027. We are Nigerians and we love Nigeria. There is an unwritten understanding in this country for power to rotate between the North and the South. This has brought relative peace to this country.”
Governor Bago’s declaration comes amid internal party debates over zoning and succession, with some APC members advocating for a northern candidate. Bago firmly rejected such calls, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the North-South power rotation, which he described as a stabilizing force in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
He also addressed criticisms of the current administration, defending President Tinubu’s efforts to tackle inherited challenges in infrastructure, education, and security. “Asiwaju did not spoil your schools or hospitals; he inherited them and is working to fix them,” Bago said, urging party loyalists to show gratitude and unity rather than dissent.
The announcement positions Bago as a key figure in the 2027 political landscape and signals early momentum for President Tinubu’s re-election bid. It also underscores Niger State’s growing influence within the APC’s national strategy.