An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Magaji Da’u Aliyu, has claimed that Northern political leaders secured President Bola Tinubu’s support for Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 presidential bid with a promise that power would return to Tinubu’s political camp after Buhari completed eight years in office.
Aliyu, a former member of the House of Representatives for Birnin-Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency in Jigawa State, made the claim while addressing supporters in Birnin Kudu. He is also Deputy Campaign Director of the North for the Tinubu Support Group.
His account offers a fresh explanation of the political understanding that preceded Buhari’s emergence as President in 2015. It also provides a basis for his position that Northern politicians should support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Aliyu recalled that Buhari had contested the presidency three times without success before Northern leaders approached Tinubu in Lagos to secure his backing.
“Buhari contested the presidential election three times and lost. We then went to Lagos to beg Tinubu to support Buhari’s presidential ambition,” he said.
According to Aliyu, Tinubu accepted on the understanding that Buhari would serve for eight years before power returned to his political camp.
“He agreed to support us on the understanding that after Buhari’s eight years in office, power would return to his side, and we accepted the agreement,” he added.
The APC chieftain maintained that the alleged understanding creates an obligation for Northern politicians to back Tinubu in the 2027 election, rather than withdraw their support after benefiting from his role in Buhari’s political journey.
“For every Northerner, fulfilling that agreement is mandatory. We have no reason not to honour the agreement we entered into,” Aliyu declared.
RELATED NEWS:
He also pledged that members of the Northern Tinubu Support Group would deploy their personal resources towards the President’s re-election campaign.
“On our part, we will support Tinubu’s re-election bid with our lives and wealth to ensure that we fulfil the promise we made,” he said.
However, Aliyu’s account is a political claim, not evidence of a publicly documented agreement. He did not identify the Northern leaders involved, provide details of when the understanding was reached or disclose whether it was written down. Tinubu and Buhari have not been quoted in the report confirming the alleged arrangement.
The claim also raises questions about the nature of political agreements in Nigeria, particularly whether informal understandings between political blocs can bind an entire region or determine the choices of voters in a constitutional election.
Under Nigeria’s electoral system, the presidency is decided by voters, not by an agreement between political leaders. Northern politicians may support Tinubu, but their position does not automatically represent the preference of every voter in the region.
Aliyu also defended Tinubu over the country’s security challenges, rejecting criticism of the administration’s handling of insecurity. He said no human being could guarantee absolute security and called on Nigerians to seek divine intervention.
“Let us stop the blame game. Only God has the power to provide security. We should seek His forgiveness, and He will grant us peace and stability,” he said.
His remarks place the alleged 2015 political bargain at the centre of the emerging debate over Northern support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
For More News Updates, Visit New Daily Prime News
