Political Chess Moves: DLA Candidates & Minister Rally Support for Tinubu's 2027 Re-election Bid

Calls for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 are gaining momentum, with key government officials and political alliances advocating for his continued leadership to consolidate ongoing national development initiatives. Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, has urged Nigerians to support President Tinubu, highlighting his significant commitment to Nigeria’s industrialization and emphasizing the need for him to complete his ambitious projects.

Minister Udeh, speaking at a press conference in Abuja at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in anticipation of the Second edition of the African Raw Materials Summit (ARMS 2026), underscored the President's vision. He pointed out that Science Technology and Innovation (STI) are crucial for national development and independence, asserting that no nation can achieve political and economic autonomy without strong STI. According to Udeh, President Tinubu is actively enhancing Nigerians' capacity to develop, rather than merely import, technology, aiming to elevate Nigeria's GDP to $1 trillion and transform the country into a knowledge-based economy. He further noted the landmark bill for 30% value addition for Nigeria’s raw materials, awaiting presidential assent, as a testament to the administration's efforts to ensure Nigeria benefits from its vast raw materials through processing rather than just exporting them in raw form. The ARMS 2026, he added, will serve as a vital forum for investors, researchers, development planners, and industrial leaders across Africa's raw materials value chain to collaborate, identify challenges, and proffer solutions, with a concerted effort to shift Africa from exporting raw materials to exporting finished goods.

In a separate but complementary development, governorship candidates of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) have pledged to collapse their political structures nationwide in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election for the 2027 Presidency. This decision was announced at a press conference in Abuja by the forum's leader, Hon. Aboki Bayonga, the DLA's Taraba State governorship candidate. While committing their support exclusively to the presidential election, the candidates affirmed their intention to retain their ambitions to contest other elective positions under their party's platform, ruling out defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). They also committed to working with Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A) to mobilize grassroots support for Tinubu.

Hon. Bayonga articulated several reasons for their endorsement, citing the administration’s impactful policies such as the NELFUND for students, significant distribution of subsidized fertilizers to farmers, especially in rural areas, and ongoing solid road construction projects across the country. He argued that a single four-year term is insufficient to complete comprehensive, long-term programs and projects requiring substantial planning and funding. Therefore, continuity is essential to allow the Tinubu administration to consolidate its policies and successfully complete its ongoing initiatives, which the DLA candidates believe will lead to a better Nigeria. Bayonga confirmed that this decision followed a general meeting of the DLA governorship candidates, where a consensus was reached to back President Tinubu’s re-election.

Addressing concerns about a potential 'life presidency', Bayonga emphatically dismissed such notions, stating that the presidency belongs to the Nigerian people and its tenure is strictly governed by constitutional provisions and the will of the electorate. He underscored that no individual can claim ownership of the office or remain in power beyond the constitutionally permitted period. The DLA candidates expressed confidence that their existing political networks and established relationships with voters at the grassroots level across their respective states would effectively drive nationwide mobilization for Tinubu’s re-election, asserting that political influence transcends mere party affiliation.