Northern Dilemma: Atiku or Tinubu? Will Obi/Kwankwaso benefit from this confusion?

As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 presidential election, Northern Nigeria is emerging as a major battleground, with President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and the NDC ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso seeking support across the region.

The political debate raises a fundamental question: should Northern voters prioritise regional political representation, party loyalty, economic recovery, security, infrastructure, or the performance of candidates and their parties?

Tinubu’s supporters point to federal projects and the administration’s development agenda as reasons to maintain support for the APC. Atiku’s camp is positioning him as an opposition alternative, with his experience and political networks forming part of his appeal. Both arguments face scrutiny over their records, policy proposals and ability to address the region’s challenges.

Meanwhile, Obi and Kwankwaso bring a different political configuration. Their NDC partnership combines Obi’s national support base with Kwankwaso’s established political network in Kano and parts of the North. NDC chieftain Buba Galadima has said the two leaders are working to harmonise their policy differences ahead of the election. However, the extent to which their partnership will attract voters across the wider North remains an open question.

With competing interests, political alliances and disagreements over the region’s future, could the Northern vote be divided among the three camps? And what should matter most to Northern voters when deciding who deserves their support in 2027?

Join the discussion: Atiku or Tinubu—and where do Obi and Kwankwaso fit into the equation?

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