2027 Elections: Why Tinubu Deserves Northern Votes — Doguwa
…Urges Constituents to Collect PVCs, Vote for Tinubu, Yusuf, Other APC Candidates
From Muhammad Kabir Kano
The member representing Tudun Wada/Doguwa Federal Constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has called on voters in the North to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that his administration should be given more time to complete ongoing infrastructure projects and consolidate its economic reforms.
Doguwa made the call while addressing constituents, supporters and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a political gathering in his constituency as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The lawmaker, who is also seeking re-election to the House of Representatives, urged constituents to obtain and safeguard their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), describing the voters’ card as an important instrument through which citizens can exercise their democratic rights and determine who governs them.
He said the 2027 elections would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to decide whether to retain the Tinubu administration and support other APC candidates at the federal and state levels.
“Your voters’ card is your weapon. It is like a knife, a gun in democracy, which will allow you to have what you want and vote for the right candidates,” Doguwa said.
The lawmaker argued that the North had reasons to support Tinubu’s re-election, particularly because of major road, rail and other infrastructure projects which, according to him, are expected to improve connectivity between the northern and southern parts of the country.
He specifically cited the Abuja-Kaduna road, the Kaduna-Kano road through Zaria and the Lagos-Kano railway project, which he said would extend connectivity towards Daura and, ultimately, Maradi in Niger Republic.
“Look at the Abuja-Kaduna road project, the Kaduna-Kano road project through Zaria that is nearing completion, and the Lagos-Kano Railway project which will pass through Daura and down to Maradi in Niger Republic,” he said.
Doguwa also mentioned the proposed Badagry-Sokoto road corridor, describing it as a major infrastructure project that would strengthen road connectivity between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria.
“There is also the Badagry-Sokoto road project which will connect the North and the South through a road corridor. It is a massive project of over 1,000 kilometres which Nigerians will travel non-stop from the North to the South and vice versa,” he said.
The lawmaker also framed his appeal within the principle of political rotation, saying the North should support the completion of Tinubu’s two-term tenure as part of what he described as an understanding among Nigerians on fairness and equitable political participation.
He, however, cautioned APC members against divisive rhetoric, personal attacks and what he described as attempts by politicians to undermine the principle of fairness for personal political interests.
Doguwa urged party members to conduct their campaigns within the bounds of democratic rules and avoid abusive language, blackmail, calumny and sectional politics.
“Nobody will come down and intimidate, not only intimidate, but instigate our people. We will not allow anybody to come and play politics of calumny, politics of blackmail or promote sectional politics,” he said.
He said the APC had witnessed increased political alignment in Tudun Wada and Doguwa following the movement of several prominent political figures into the ruling party.
According to him, former political opponents in the constituency had now converged under the APC platform, creating what he described as a broader political family working towards the success of the party in the 2027 elections.
“All the people who stood to be our opponents in those days, and those of us in very huge number in this huge block, Allah in His mercy, Allah of peace, Allah of unity, has now decided to bring all of us together under one umbrella,” he said.
Doguwa cited the Doguwa Local Government chairman, Alhaji Umaru Haruna, as well as retired Air Commodore Yushau Salisu Soja and the Chairperson of Tudun Wada Local Government, Hajiya Sa’adatu Salisu Soja, whom he said were now members of the APC and working for the party’s success.
He also referred to the Kano State APC Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Haruna, as a member of the political family in the constituency and commended his role in strengthening the party.
Doguwa said the political realignment in the constituency had created what he described as a “level playing ground”, with former political opponents now working together under one platform.
“We are operating as a family. We are operating as a democratically elected group of people, and we will continue to ensure that victory comes to the APC from top to bottom,” he said.
He further claimed that the political atmosphere in Tudun Wada had changed significantly, with former opposition figures now supporting the administration of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Doguwa said the development had demonstrated the growing cohesion within the APC and expressed confidence that members of the party in the constituency would work together during the 2027 elections.
He consequently urged Governor Yusuf to focus his campaign efforts on other parts of the state, saying the APC had already secured substantial political support in Tudun Wada and Doguwa.
“The governor should go for campaign in the other 42 local governments. The two local governments in my constituency are already in the till because they have already been taken by the APC,” he said.
He also appealed to the Kano State APC Chairman, whom he said is from his constituency, to concentrate on his wider responsibilities rather than spending considerable time campaigning in Tudun Wada and Doguwa.
According to Doguwa, the chairman’s responsibilities had expanded following his role in coordinating APC chairmen across the six states of the North-West geopolitical zone.
The lawmaker acknowledged that some of the Federal Government’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, had imposed difficulties on Nigerians.
He, however, argued that the reforms were difficult but necessary measures which, in his view, could produce long-term economic benefits if properly implemented and adjusted where necessary.
Doguwa said the government must remain responsive to the concerns of Nigerians and make policy adjustments whenever necessary to reduce the hardship associated with reforms.
“In a democracy, laws are not cast in stone. They are dynamic and subject to change. As members of the House, we’ll discharge our responsibilities. We’ll reach out to the policymakers to tell them where the shoe is pinching.
“We’ll tell them when it pinches on the leg, on the fingers or any part, in order to make adjustments that will ease the pains,” he said.
He therefore called on his constituents and APC supporters to mobilise ahead of the 2027 elections, collect their PVCs and participate actively in the electoral process.
Doguwa said the re-election of Tinubu, alongside the election of other APC candidates, would, in his assessment, provide an opportunity for the administration to consolidate its economic reforms and complete ongoing infrastructure projects.
He expressed optimism that continued investment in infrastructure and economic reforms would strengthen Nigeria’s foundation for long-term development and improve the country’s socio-economic prospects.
