Northern Nigeria’s political establishment has formalised its backing for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, unveiling a coalition, Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), that draws together former governors, sitting and former senators, ministers and grassroots power-brokers across all 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The coalition’s Head of Media Relations, Edwin Olofu, announced the structure in a statement issued Monday in Abuja, adding that a formal unveiling is expected in the coming days, followed by zonal and state-level inaugurations.
Who Sits At The Top Of The Structure
A4A’s apex body is a 14-member Board of Trustees (BOT), chaired by former Kano State Governor and ex-Education Minister Senator Ibrahim Shekarau.
His deputies are former Yobe State Governor and current Minister of Police Affairs Senator Ibrahim Geidam, and former Plateau State Governor Barrister Simon Bako Lalong, who also represents Plateau South in the Senate.
Former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar doubles as BOT Secretary, assisted by Engineer Abubakar Gambo.
Day-to-day operations run through a National Directorate led by Badaru Abubakar as Director-General, backed by three Deputy National Coordinators covering the North-West (Barrister Ibrahim Shema), North-Central (Yahaya Bello) and North-East (Honourable Abdulrazaq Namdas).
A Wide Network Of Specialised Directorates
Beneath the National Directorate sits a dense network of specialised units covering finance, operations, communications, mobilisation, youth affairs, business and professional outreach, religious engagement, civil society, parliamentary mobilisation, research, ICT, entertainment, traditional institutions, women’s mobilisation and academic and student affairs.
Key politicians include Dr Bala Wunti (Finance and Resource Mobilisation), Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura (Operations and Logistics), Abdulaziz Abdulaziz (Communications and Media Strategy), Barrister Ismail Ahmed (Mobilisation) and Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, who runs the Secretariat as Secretary.
| Directorate | Lead | Deputy |
|---|---|---|
| Finance & Resource Mobilisation | Dr Bala Wunti | Abdulrahman Leme |
| Operations & Logistics | Sen. Tijjani Yahaya Kaura | Maj-Gen. A.T. Jibril (retd) |
| Communications & Media Strategy | Abdulaziz Abdulaziz | Jibrin Baba Ndace |
| Mobilisation | Barr. Ismail Ahmed | Hon. Michael Msuaan |
| Youth Affairs | Engr. Abba Aliyu | Comrade Murtala Gamji |
| Business & Professionals | Sen. Sani Musa | Dr Shamsuddeen Ahmad |
| Religious Community | Malam Abdullahi Mukhtar Mohammad | Hon. Abubakar Jallo, Rev. Yakubu Pam |
| Eminent Personalities & Civil Servants | Malam Jalal Arabi, mni | Sunusi Musa, SAN |
| Civil Society | Amb. Bashir Yuguda | Hon. Yusuf Capt. Buba |
| Parliamentary Mobilisation | Sen. Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila | Hon. Ahmed Alhaji Satomi |
| Research & Strategy | Bashir Dabo | Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal |
| ICT & Situation Room | Engr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu | Dr Khalipha Nuhu |
| Creative & Entertainment Industry | Ali Nuhu | Tukura John Daniel |
| Traditional Institutions | Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar | Alhaji Abbas Tijjani Hashim |
| Women Mobilisation | Hajiya Iman Suleiman (Minister of Women Affairs) | Hajiya Safiya UK Ibrahim, Hajiya Halima Shehu |
| Academic Community | Prof. Umar Adam Katsayal | Prof. Sadiya Sani Daura, Prof. Judith Onyefu Dawulung |
| Students Affairs | Zakari Usman Mijinyawa | Dr Abbas Nafada |
| Secretariat | Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman (Secretary) | Aliyu Abdullahi Tanko |
State Coordinators Named Across The North
A4A has also named state coordinators for all 19 Northern states and the FCT, including Honourable Alosius Babadoke (Adamawa), Dr Nura Manu Soro (Bauchi), Honourable Emmanuel Jime (Benue), His Excellency Abdullahi T. Gwarzo (Kano), Honourable Muhammed Goni Maulud (Borno), and Honourable Shitu Mohammed Kabir (FCT), among others across Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara states.
The full coalition structure signals an early and expansive mobilisation effort by Northern political interests ahead of the 2027 general election, in which Tinubu is expected to seek a second term.
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