Local Govt Autonomy, Infrastructure Gives Tinubu Edge Over Atiku, Obi, Others In The North – CENAD

The Centre for Northern Awareness and Development (CENAD) has unveiled its list of the most preferred presidential, governorship, senatorial and House of Representatives candidates across Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.

CENAD, which describes itself as a regional, non-religious, non-ethnic and pro-development organisation committed to promoting unity, peace and harmonious coexistence, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged as the most preferred presidential candidate in the North.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CENAD, Comrade Ismaila Aruwa, said the endorsement was the outcome of a research conducted across 419 Local Government Areas in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Aruwa said the research was designed to identify the most preferred candidates across all levels, adding that a full-page advertorial containing the full list – comprising the presidential candidate, 18 gubernatorial candidates, 58 senatorial candidates and 191 House of Representatives candidates – would soon be published.

He stressed that the endorsements were not based on political party affiliations but on parameters assessed by respondents during the field exercise.

“The responsibility of CENAD is to amplify, promote and publicise the endorsements made by citizens and constituents across the region,” he said.

According to Aruwa, respondents cited President Tinubu’s support for local government autonomy and his administration’s investment in critical infrastructure in Northern Nigeria as key reasons for his edge over former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr Peter Obi and other contenders.

He listed some of the projects to include the ongoing rail line construction projects, the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway originally conceptualised during the Second Republic, the construction of the Buruku Bridge across the River Benue, the Ibi Bridge linking the North-Central and North-East zones, and the flag-off of the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Numan-Yola Expressway.

Other initiatives highlighted by the group include the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, the creation of the North-Central and North-West Development Commissions, the establishment of new military divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin and Jalingo, the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Aruwa also announced the formal flag-off of the establishment and registration of multipurpose cooperative societies in all 4,611 wards across Northern Nigeria, an initiative he said was aimed at promoting economic prosperity and empowering communities through access to grants and loans from governmental and non-governmental organisations, locally and internationally.

He disclosed that CENAD had already facilitated the registration of two multipurpose cooperative societies in Kogi and Taraba States as pilot schemes.

He added that the organisation intends to leverage its presence across about 97,000 polling units in the North to mobilise a conservative estimate of five million votes for President Tinubu and similar support for other endorsed candidates.

Aruwa said the national leadership of CENAD would embark on visits to the 19 Northern states and the FCT to decorate award recipients and present them with Certificates of Final Endorsement.