A coalition of northern All Progressives Congress (APC) heavyweights—former governors, sitting and ex-senators, ministers and other stakeholders—has created a regionwide mobilisation structure to bolster President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign ahead of 2027.
The group, Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), is set to be formally unveiled in Abuja in the coming days, with zonal and state inaugurations to follow, according to a statement by its head of media relations, Edwin Olofu.
A4A will operate as a structured political organisation with national, zonal and state leadership tiers spanning all 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
At the apex sits a 14-member Board of Trustees (BOT) chaired by former Kano governor and ex-education minister Ibrahim Shekarau.
Former Yobe governor and police affairs minister Ibrahim Geidam and former Plateau governor and senator Simon Lalong serve as deputy chairmen.
Other BOT members include Ibrahim Masari, Joshua Dariye, Buba Marwa, Aliyu Wamakko, Isa Yuguda, Jolly Nyame, Atiku Bagudu, Yahaya Bello, Aishatu Dukku, Binta Ibrahim and Badaru Abubakar, who doubles as the board’s secretary.
Badaru—former Jigawa governor and defence minister—will also serve as director-general of the national directorate, supported by Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Abdulrazaq Namdas as deputy national coordinators for the north-west, north-central and north-east respectively.
Hadiza Bala Usman is named secretary of the organisation, assisted by Aliyu Abdullahi Tanko.
The coalition has established multiple directorates to cover core campaign functions and constituency outreach, including finance and resource mobilisation; operations and logistics; communications and media strategy; mobilisation; youth affairs; business and professionals; and religious communities.
Additional directorates focus on eminent personalities and civil servants; civil society; parliamentary mobilisation; research and strategy; ICT; creative and entertainment; traditional institutions; women; and the academic community and students.
A4A has named coordinators for each of the 19 northern states and the FCT to drive grassroots mobilisation, including Emmanuel Jime (Benue), Abubakar Kari (Gombe), Ahmed Maiyaki (Kaduna), Abdullahi Gwarzo (Kano), Yakubu Dati (Plateau) and Mohammed Maulud (Borno), among others.
The group says these state structures will serve as the engine for local-level organising across the region in the run-up to the 2027 presidential election.
