Since February 6, 2013, when the All Progressives Congress (APC) was formed, the party has been the darling of the North. In the 2015, 2019, and 2023 presidential elections, the North was instrumental in bringing and maintaining the APC in power at the center. However, today, in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s just two years in power, the north is aggrieved against the Tinubu government. This is surprising, and not surprising as well.
Out of the 8.7 million votes that brought President Tinubu to power, the North collectively contributed 5.6 million votes, about 64% of his total. In contrast, the South contributed 3.2 million votes, or 36%. Given this overwhelming support, it is surprising that the President has allowed the North to so easily slip from his political grip.
To be fair to Tinubu, every President seeks to reward close associates, loyalists, and political allies including his own way of governing. However, Tinubu appears to have gone too far in prioritizing his inner circle, often at the expense of the region that gave him his strongest mandate.