2027: Northern APC Youths Threaten to Dump Tinubu, Accuse Party Power Brokers of Marginalising Arewa Voices

Fresh cracks may be emerging within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as northern youth stakeholders have threatened to reconsider their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition, alleging widespread exclusion from political appointments, youth leadership positions and key decision-making structures.

The warning came after a strategic meeting between the North-West APC Youth Stakeholders Forum, led by its Coordinating Chairman, Hon. Bashir Ruma, and the leadership of the Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum.

At the centre of the gathering was growing frustration among northern youths who claimed they have been sidelined in the distribution of political opportunities despite their role in the APC’s electoral successes.

In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum, Amb. Salawudeen Shaibu Planner, the group accused the party and government of failing to adequately accommodate northern youths in influential positions.

The forum said it was prepared to rally APC support groups across the North against what it described as regional favoritism and unequal treatment within the party’s political ecosystem.

As part of its mobilisation efforts, the group announced the appointment of Hon. Haruna Sardauna and Mallam Idiriss Jibrin as coordinators for the North-East and North-Central regions respectively. Both men have been tasked with engaging stakeholders and support groups across their zones to build consensus on the next line of action.

The forum claimed that dissatisfaction among northern youths has reached a critical stage, alleging that opportunities within youth-related political and government institutions are increasingly concentrated in the hands of individuals from the South-West.

According to the group, the situation has created a growing sense of alienation among young APC supporters in the North who believe their contributions to the party's success are not being recognised.

In what appears to be a direct political warning ahead of the 2027 general election, the forum disclosed that it had directed 1,378 registered APC support group leaders across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory to begin consultations on the possibility of withdrawing support for President Tinubu’s re-election campaign if their grievances remain unresolved.

A major target of the group's criticism was Barrister Seyi Tinubu, son of the President, whom it accused of exerting significant influence over youth political structures and appointments.

The forum alleged that several youth-related institutions and platforms have witnessed the emergence of individuals closely linked to the South-West, particularly those of Yoruba extraction, at the expense of northern youths.

Among the organisations mentioned were the Ministry of Youth Development, the APC youth leadership structure, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), and other youth-focused bodies.

The group further claimed that youth movements such as the City Boy Movement and the Relax, Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria Movement have enjoyed preferential recognition and support in efforts to mobilise backing for the President ahead of the next election cycle.

According to the forum, both organisations are allegedly led by individuals with close ties to Seyi Tinubu, while northern-led APC support groups have struggled to receive similar attention and support.

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Describing the development as unfair, the stakeholders argued that political opportunities and recognition should not be determined by ethnicity or region.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us, and the APC and Tinubu belong to Nigeria, not only to the Yoruba,” the group declared.

The forum also reminded the party leadership that northern voters played a decisive role in President Tinubu’s victory during the 2023 presidential election, insisting that such support should be reflected in political inclusion and opportunities for the region’s youth population.

It argued that the President secured substantial votes across several northern states and warned against treating the region as politically expendable.

Despite its strong position, the group ruled out any form of confrontation, with Hon. Bashir Ruma urging northern youth leaders to remain calm, united and peaceful while pressing for what he described as fair representation.

He maintained that the movement’s objective was not to divide the party but to strengthen democratic participation and ensure every region has a meaningful voice in national youth affairs.

The stakeholders warned that unresolved grievances could weaken APC unity, affect grassroots mobilisation efforts and create fresh political challenges for the ruling party as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.

They called on the APC national leadership to urgently open dialogue with northern youth groups and address concerns over representation before the situation escalates into a wider political dispute.

The forum also appealed directly to President Tinubu to reinforce national unity by ensuring that appointments and political opportunities reflect Nigeria’s diverse regional and cultural makeup.

According to the group, equitable treatment of youths across all parts of the country remains essential to sustaining confidence in the APC and deepening democratic participation.

With political calculations already taking shape ahead of 2027, the controversy is expected to intensify conversations around regional balance, youth inclusion and the influence of political support groups within the ruling party.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency, the APC national leadership nor Seyi Tinubu had responded publicly to the allegations.