2027: APC Has What It Takes To Win In Northern Nigeria- Pate

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has what it takes to win in Northern Nigeria, insisting that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has recorded tangible improvements across key sectors.

Pate also claimed that 18 of the 19 northern states were aligned with the APC, with Bauchi being the exception, while expressing optimism that the ruling party would secure significant support in the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The minister made the remarks during an appearance on Arise News Prime Time on Wednesday night, where he dismissed concerns about the APC’s political prospects in the North, describing negative assessments of the party’s standing as a narrow narrative largely driven by social media and elite circles.

He said, “It’s a narrative. It’s a very narrow narrative. It’s largely on the social media and among elite circles.”

Responding to the interviewer’s reference to a newspaper assessment of the political situation, Pate argued that many ordinary Nigerians in rural communities were unaware of such reports but were beginning to see the impact of the administration’s policies.

“I can assure you that the people in many villages in northern Nigeria have not read ThisDay and its report. And the people on the ground have seen and are seeing the giant strides, but also the sacrifices that President Tinubu has led us to do. And they’re beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

The minister maintained that the APC could win through grassroots mobilisation and effective organisation at the polling unit, ward and local government levels.

“Forget about the narrow narrative. I believe APC has what it takes to work hard at the polling unit, at the ward level, in local government, to get out the votes and win fair and square,” Pate said.

Speaking specifically about Bauchi State, he described the APC as the largest political party in the state, claiming that members of the ruling party were defecting to the opposition party.

“In Bauchi, for instance, APC is by far the largest party. And every day, including in last 24 hours, you hear the ruling party in the state losing votes from its executive council,” he said.

Pate added that a member of the state House of Assembly had informed him of plans to join the APC, while citing a recent by-election victory as evidence of the party’s growing political strength.

However, the interviewer challenged the minister’s argument, noting that the concerns of ordinary Nigerians extended beyond political alignments and newspaper assessments to the rising cost of living and the ability of households to afford basic necessities.

In response, Pate argued that Nigerians were beginning to experience improvements following the economic difficulties associated with the removal of the fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira.

“What I’m saying to you is that there are tangible improvements,” he said.

He added, “Three years ago, there was all hue and cry, forced removal of subsidies, on devaluation, on food prices. Those facts abated, and folks have begun to see, even on the security issue, it abated compared to where it was.”

The minister acknowledged that security challenges had not been completely resolved but credited Tinubu with confronting the situation and pursuing solutions.

“Not completely resolved, wasn’t forced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but he took it head-on and has been able to provide solutions,” he said.

Pate further defended the administration’s performance by highlighting its interventions in education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure, arguing that the policies had produced tangible benefits for Nigerians.

He cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides financial support to eligible students, alongside healthcare initiatives aimed at expanding access to medical services.

“Take NELFUND. Take the hundreds and thousands, more than millions of students and their families, not only who have benefited, but a spooky line of sight that wasn’t there before,” he said.

On healthcare, the minister highlighted the government’s efforts to expand access to maternal healthcare, strengthen primary healthcare centres and increase health insurance coverage.

“See what he’s done in health. More than 80,000 caesarean sections conducted. See the thousands of primary health care centres revitalised. The seven million additional folks who have had insurance,” he said.

He also cited the vaccination of more than 109 million children aged zero to nine in 2025, improvements in maternal mortality data and the establishment of cancer treatment centres in Benin, Enugu and Katsina.

According to Pate, the administration’s investments in healthcare infrastructure, education, agriculture and support for small and medium-sized enterprises would strengthen public confidence in the ruling party.

He expressed optimism that the APC’s grassroots mobilisation and record in government would translate into electoral support in the North.

“We’re confident that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be leading the fair and square and the north will back him up because we do know various segments of northern society, not the few, that have particular reasons because they are, of course, angling for power,” he said.

Pate acknowledged that political opponents had legitimate ambitions in a democracy but insisted that Tinubu would perform strongly in the region.

“But the President, we think, will do very well in the north and will work hard to ensure that he does well,” he added.