Support for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) is solidifying across various Nigerian states, with prominent political figures reaffirming their loyalty and commitment to the party's future. This widespread endorsement is driven by acknowledgements of developmental achievements and strategic preparations for the 2027 general elections, as demonstrated by actions and statements from Senator Sunday Marshal Katung of Kaduna South, Prince Enobong Uwah from Akwa Ibom, and Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from Kano State.

Senator Sunday Marshal Katung, representing Kaduna South, has openly declared his unwavering loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, asserting that his support transcends party affiliation. Katung, who recently defected to the ruling APC, stated that his decision was rooted in gratitude rather than political calculation. He cited President Tinubu’s establishment of a federal university, a college of medicine, and a federal medical centre in his zone as compelling reasons, highlighting that these interventions within 18 months surpassed the efforts of previous administrations. Katung emphasized that even if he had remained with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he would have fully supported Tinubu, noting, “No President, living or dead, has done for my people what he has done.”

Beyond his political allegiance, Senator Katung is deeply committed to addressing critical issues within his constituency. He expressed concern over the severe neglect in Kauru and Sanga Local Government Areas, advocating for urgent national attention to their infrastructural deficiencies. He described entire communities in Kauru as inaccessible, preventing residents from reaching neighbouring villages or transporting farm produce to markets, and lamented that such areas remain cut off from civilization despite significant national infrastructure spending. Katung has nominated a critical road project—Jere, Kuru Minjibu, Kwoi, Kafanchan up to Kanahuli—for federal intervention in the 2024 budget, acknowledging that similar dire conditions persist in Sanga. He recounted a tragic incident where students drowned in Kauru last year, personally witnessing the challenging terrain. Furthermore, many communities in his zone suffer from a lack of electricity, with some villagers reporting that his Special Assistant on Projects was the first government representative they had ever encountered.

A deeply personal mission for Senator Katung is his revived sickle cell bill, which he first attempted to sponsor in 2016. Driven by a haunting 1991 encounter with a child in sickle cell crisis and the tragic loss of General Mukhtar’s children to the same condition, he insists the legislation must be completed to prevent needless deaths. The bill proposes establishing sickle cell treatment centres in every local government area, centres of excellence across the six geopolitical zones, and policies to boost local production of critical sickle cell medication currently sourced from London. A public hearing for the bill is scheduled, after which the National Assembly will finalize it for presidential assent. Katung also praised religious institutions for advocating premarital genotype screening but suggested mandatory testing should result from stakeholder submissions to avoid sensitivities. His NGO currently supports approximately 55 sickle cell patients, reflecting his personal sacrifice. His priorities for the region also include roads, healthcare facilities, and electrification, stressing that bottom-up planning and genuine community engagement are crucial for curbing insecurity and youth restiveness.

In Akwa Ibom State, Prince Enobong Uwah, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and political leader of Uyo Local Government Area, has also reaffirmed Uyo’s unwavering loyalty and support to President Bola Tinubu and Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno. Speaking at the maiden APC Homegoing Weekend meeting in Uyo, the SSG noted that residents would continue to support their administrations due to their fairness, inclusiveness, and commitment to development. He highlighted Governor Eno’s appointment of an SSG from Uyo as a key reason for the area’s firm backing. Other speakers at the event, including the ALGON chairman, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, and Uyo APC chapter chairman, Mr. Gabriel Ikpe, emphasized the need for intensified mobilization efforts ahead of the 2027 elections and expressed confidence in a resounding APC victory. The member representing Uyo State Constituency, Hon. Uwemedimo Udo, asserted that Uyo has no reason to be outside the APC fold, given the numerous key appointments from the area. The event, which included the accreditation and revalidation of APC membership, saw stakeholders pledge total support for the President and Governor’s second-term bids, citing ongoing development efforts as justification.

Further north, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, former national chairman of the APC and immediate past governor of Kano State, announced that party leaders and stakeholders from Kano North had resolved to openly endorse President Bola Tinubu as the APC’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections. Following a three-day consultative meeting with party executives and influential stakeholders, Ganduje stated that the engagement focused on strengthening party cohesion and firming up preparations for the upcoming polls. Resolutions included ensuring complete unity within the party, public declarations of Tinubu’s endorsement across all local governments in Kano State, and the reactivation of all APC offices across the 44 local government areas and 484 wards to strengthen grassroots structures. Ganduje also announced plans for fresh electronic registration of party members, expressing confidence that Kano would once again record the highest number of registered members nationwide. He urged youths aged 18 and above to register with INEC and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards. While prominent figures like the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Yusuf Ata, and Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, were absent, the prevailing sentiment was one of renewed commitment and preparedness for the 2027 elections.