More than 600 senior academics from public universities across Northern Nigeria have announced their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid to secure a second term in office in the 2027 presidential election.
The academics made their position known at a stakeholders’ engagement convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, in Kaduna State.
The meeting, held behind closed doors at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Centre, brought together senior academics and political leaders to discuss the Tinubu administration, developments in the country and the 2027 political contest.
Although journalists were initially barred from entering the venue, they were later permitted to witness the presentation of the communiqué issued after the deliberations.
According to the communiqué read by the Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University, Prof Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, the academics examined the performance of Tinubu’s administration since it assumed office in May 2023, with particular attention to the economic, political, security and social conditions affecting the country and the Northern region.
The academics acknowledged the difficulties created by some of the Federal Government’s economic reforms, including higher living and transportation costs and inflationary pressures.
They also noted that Tinubu inherited what they described as an economy facing “fiscal, monetary and structural challenges,” as well as insecurity, infrastructure deficits and gaps in human capital development.
“While these reforms have imposed substantial short-term hardship through higher living and transportation costs and inflationary pressures, we also acknowledge that they have altered government revenues and public finance,” they said.
Despite the hardship, the academics said the administration had made progress in several areas, including education financing, agriculture, infrastructure, business support, compressed natural gas, investment and the digital economy.
Following their assessment, the academics announced their support for Tinubu’s return to the presidency in 2027.
“We resolved to express our support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the 2027 presidential election,” they stated.
However, the academics stressed that their endorsement should not be interpreted as unconditional support for everything being done by the administration.
“Our support should not be interpreted as a blank check,” they said.
They urged the government to remain responsive to citizens, accept legitimate criticism and take stronger measures to address food and transportation costs, unemployment and insecurity.
The academics further called for a broader security strategy combining military operations with intelligence gathering, effective policing, community engagement and the creation of economic opportunities.
They also urged the Federal Government to increase investment in agriculture, education, healthcare, roads, electricity, irrigation and other infrastructure considered critical to the development of Northern Nigeria.
Several senior government officials and political figures attended the engagement, including Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
Others present were Defence Minister Bello Matawalle, Minister of Housing Muttaqha Rabe Darma and former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari.
A source at the meeting said most public universities across the 19 northern states were represented, with academics from the three geopolitical zones given an opportunity to address the gathering.
Prof Musa spoke for academics from the North-West, while the Chief Librarian of the Federal University Lafia, Prof Abdulrazaq Baba Abdulrahman, represented the North-Central zone. The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Agriculture, Gwoza, spoke on behalf of the North-East.
Professor Mohammed Umar Sanda of the Federal University Dutsinma was also said to have attended, while the source added that most vice-chancellors of federal universities in the North were present.
However, Prof Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi of Bayero University, Kano, who was named by a source as an attendee, denied being at the meeting when contacted. He said he was not even aware of the gathering.
The endorsement came against the backdrop of an invitation letter which indicated that mobilising the support of senior academics for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election was one of the principal objectives of the meeting.
The event was described as an “interactive session of senior academics from Northern Nigeria and selected government functionaries” under the theme, “Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda: Three Years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Achievements and the Road to 2027.”
The invitation listed the assessment of the administration’s performance in areas such as the economy, security, education, infrastructure and social welfare as one of the objectives, alongside efforts to “secure the endorsement and active support of the academic community for the re-election of Mr President in the 2027 General Elections.”
It further stated that “the purpose of the gathering is therefore not open-ended debate but mobilisation.”
The organisers also said attendance was voluntary and encouraged academics who were favourably disposed to the objective of the gathering to participate.
Logistics and transportation arrangements were reportedly made for participants. A senior university staff member who did not attend the event said participants would be expected to receive reimbursement for their transportation and other expenses, although the amount allegedly paid to individuals could not be independently confirmed.
“Of course, you should expect all those who attended the stakeholders’ engagement to be reimbursed for their logistics and transportation. You don’t expect them to just attend and leave with empty hands,” the source said.
Masari, in his remarks, urged academics to become more involved in the political process rather than remaining on the sidelines and criticising government policies.
He argued that developments in the education sector under the Tinubu administration provided a reason for academics to participate in determining the country’s political direction.
The meeting was part of a wider effort by Tinubu’s political camp to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 election.
However, the Northern lecturers’ endorsement immediately attracted a response from the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which distanced itself from the declaration.
ASUU President, Prof Chris Piwuna, said the union remained apolitical and had never endorsed, and would not endorse, any political party or candidate.
“We will never take such positions, going by our constitution. They cannot mention ASUU. Nobody can mention ASUU in that context because we’re apolitical. Our members can belong to any political party that they want.
“They can do whatever they want to do under the law. We have never, and we will never endorse any political party candidate. Nobody should drag us into such things,” he said.
Piwuna maintained that individual lecturers were free to participate in politics as permitted by law, but such activities should not be presented as the position of ASUU.
He added, “Neither our members nor our comrades should drag us into that controversy. We have never done it and we will never do it. We’re apolitical and we retain that apolitical position.”
The ASUU president also warned against associating the union with political activities undertaken by individual academics or university administrators.
“It is misleading because ASUU has not sent anybody outside to participate in the electoral duties or serve as electoral officers. You can imagine heads of institutions like vice-chancellors that are always fighting us on campus; when they go out and do something, they will say they are our members. Meanwhile, these are the people fighting the union. We don’t endorse candidates of political parties,” he said.
The latest endorsement adds to recent expressions of support for Tinubu from groups across different parts of the country.
Days earlier, the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria had also endorsed Tinubu for a second term, with its President-General, Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas, declaring that the Christian body would support the President in 2027 and beyond.
“We stand with the president today, and as long as he’s willing to be our president and even come in 2027, we will still be standing with him,” Kawas said.
“On this, this house has endorsed him for the 2027 presidency.”
Kawas said the bishops’ position followed their assessment of Tinubu’s administration, including his appointments and what they described as his support for Christian interests and the emergence of Christian governors.
He also said the conference would continue to pray for the President and advocate policies it believes would benefit Nigerians.
“We are here today to reassure him of our solid support; we are standing with him in prayers and advocacy for the good programmes he has brought forth for the liberation of Nigeria,” Kawas said.