In direct contrast to statements made by the Northern Elders Forum, a group of youths from the region known as the Progressive Northern Youth Forum (PNYF) has announced their intention to provide strong backing for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
During a two-day conference held in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the national president of the group, Isah Usman Jabbi, revealed this stance on Tuesday as representatives from the 19 Northern states came together to discuss the current state of the nation.
Earlier this month, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) expressed regret over their support for Tinubu in the 2023 election, with spokesman Abdul-Azeez Suleiman stating in an interview with Guardian that such errors would not be repeated in the upcoming general elections.
Pushing back against these claims, the youth forum asserted that the elders did not speak on behalf of all northerners.
Jabbi emphasized, “During our evaluation, PNYF members determined that these leaders were not authorized to represent all 19 Northern States, rendering their statements irrelevant in today’s Nigeria context.
“Should President Bola Ahmed Tinubu decide to seek re-election in 2027, the northern region is prepared to throw its support behind him, with a significant number of votes expected from the North.”