34 governors back Tinubu: can governors really deliver your vote?
By The Guardian's count, 34 of Nigeria's 36 governors are lined up behind President Tinubu's re-election. Governors promise to deliver their states; the opposition says governors don't vote, people do.
The count: 31 APC governors plus Anambra's Charles Soludo (APGA), Osun's Ademola Adeleke (Accord) and Abia's Alex Otti (LP) back Tinubu, according to The Guardian. Oyo's Seyi Makinde and Bauchi's Bala Mohammed are not on board.
The governors' promise: Kaduna's Uba Sani told TVC: “In Kaduna State, allowing any candidate to even get 25 percent of the votes is a failure on our side.” FCT Minister Nyesom Wike warned APC leaders: “if you don't deliver your states and the President wins, don't say we've won.” Edo's Monday Okpebholo has set a target of 2.5 million votes.
The opposition's answer: Obi's running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso: “Those who think that because they have over 30 governors they cannot lose are making a very big mistake.” ADC's Rauf Aregbesola: governors “do not win elections—the people do.”
History: in 2015 the ruling PDP controlled 21 states and President Jonathan lost to Buhari. In 2023 Tinubu won nationally (8.79m votes to Atiku's 6.98m and Obi's 6.10m) but lost Lagos to Obi by 9,848 votes despite an APC governor.
Proxy campaigns: Tinubu says he will not attend rallies in all 36 states because he must keep governing. The ADC says “Nigerians will not accept proxy campaigns”; Uba Sani says the APC is “the only party that is reaching out, talking to the people.”
Plus: at a rally in Kaduna, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) declared support for Tinubu's re-election. Its president, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, said the livestock ministry is “something we have been advocating for and looking forward to for decades.”
Sources
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