2027: Kano gov, lawmaker target one million non-indigene votes for Tinubu

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has said his administration and political allies are targeting one million votes from Yoruba and other non-indigenous communities in the state for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Yusuf made the declaration on Saturday during an empowerment programme organised by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Joseph Abejide, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State, where he announced a N500m interest-free loan scheme for women and widows residing in Kano.

PUNCH Online reports that Abejide, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Asiwaju of the Yoruba people in Kano, said the intervention was part of his commitment to giving back to the people of Kano, a city he described as his home and the foundation of his success.

“I arrived in Kano in February 1993 as a young boy from Alu in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State. The city provided me with the opportunities that shaped my business career long before I ventured into politics,” Abejide said.

Having lived and built his wealth in Kano for more than three decades, he said he regarded the state as his second home and remained deeply connected to its people across ethnic lines.

According to him, the N500m revolving, interest-free loan facility targets women organised into cooperative societies, with beneficiaries receiving support according to their business capacity.

“This N500m interest-free loan scheme is specifically designed for women and widows residing in Kano. It is a revolving facility that will enable beneficiaries to grow their businesses sustainably, and once repaid, the funds will be extended to other deserving women,” Abejide explained.

“Widows under the programme will receive direct financial assistance through their bank accounts to strengthen their petty businesses. All participating women will also receive rice and six yards of printed wax fabric,” he added.

The scheme covers women from eight Yoruba-speaking states — Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara — alongside Ebira, Igala and Bassa communities from Kogi State residing in Kano.

Abejide assured beneficiaries that the programme was designed as a sustainable intervention rather than a temporary political gesture, with monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure accountability.

He declared his support for Tinubu, Yusuf and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections, urging the beneficiaries to reciprocate through their votes.

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Expressing concern that Tinubu secured just over 500,000 votes in Kano in 2023, Abejide said the result had challenged him to mobilise the large Yoruba and non-indigene population more effectively.

“We are targeting no fewer than one million votes from Yoruba and other non-indigene communities across the 44 local government areas of Kano for President Tinubu and Governor Yusuf in 2027. The non-indigene voting strength in this state is enormous and must be fully harnessed this time,” he stated.

He also pledged to introduce additional programmes if the support was sustained, saying his next intervention would target Hausa and Fulani communities in Nasarawa Local Government Area.

In his remarks, Yusuf urged other members of the National Assembly to emulate the lawmaker by extending assistance to their constituents and other Nigerians, regardless of ethnic or religious differences.

“Such interventions would promote national unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians,” the governor said.

“I commend Hon. Abejide for this gesture and call on other lawmakers to follow this example of inclusiveness that strengthens our democracy and brings people together. With the support of our non-indigene communities, we are determined to mobilise the one million votes needed to secure victory for President Tinubu and the APC in Kano in 2027,” Yusuf added.

Another highlight of the event was the launch of a N3bn fundraising initiative for the construction of an ultra-modern palace for the Oba of Yoruba in Kano.

Abejide donated N220m towards the project, while two of his associates contributed N200m and N500m, respectively. The Kano State Government pledged N100m.

The event was attended by political leaders, traditional representatives and members of Yoruba and other non-indigenous communities.

The mobilisation forms part of broader efforts by political actors to secure support across ethnic groups in Kano ahead of the 2027 general elections.