ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has accused opposition parties of dragging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) into early political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, but insisted he remains focused on governance.
Tinubu spoke on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a meeting with governors from the North East region led by Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum.
“In the political environment, we are being drawn into early political activities from our rival political parties,” Tinubu said.
“But whichever way it is, I am not distracted. I am solidly focused on what is ahead. Politics will happen at a given time… Our political party will prove itself eventually.”
The president acknowledged the security challenges facing the region and praised governors for their collaboration with security agencies, particularly through the use of civilian joint task forces.
He signalled that his administration might approach the National Assembly to consider state police as part of efforts to bolster local security.
“Politics apart, we can discourse with the National Assembly leadership to really look at critical parts,” Tinubu said.
“To see how we can eliminate political issues from state police that will be indigenous to the community and provide the additional safety buffer and effectiveness in the area. We have to look at it collectively together.”
In his remarks on behalf of the governors, Zulum thanked Tinubu for sustaining military operations against insurgency and for interventions addressing floods, desertification, and other natural disasters in the sub-region.
He underscored the North East’s unique security and environmental challenges, describing the vast “unmanned forests, gorges, deserts, mountains and rivers” that complicate governance and heighten insecurity.
The governors presented a list of demands, including:
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Continued military operations in Lake Chad, Mandara Hills, Sambisa, and other troubled areas.
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Funding for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
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Completion of critical road and rail infrastructure, including the Kano–Maiduguri road, Port Harcourt–Jos–Bauchi–Maiduguri rail line, and several regional highways.
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Resumption of oil exploration in Kolmani and Lake Chad frontier wells.
Zulum affirmed the governors’ commitment to align with Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” especially in food security and agricultural development.
Tinubu praised the North East governors for their cooperation and pledged to continue working with them to build what he described as “the Nigeria of our dreams.”
“There’s no way politics will not interfere once in a while,” he said.
“It is for us to embrace the heart of winning and from that heart we know the superior thinkers and doers.”
