By Ibrahim Salihu
Yoruba community leaders across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on members of the Yoruba community and political groups to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general elections.
The leaders, under the platform of the Yoruba Northern Network for Tinubu (YONNET), said the President deserved another term in office to consolidate ongoing reforms and sustain development efforts across various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The National Coordinator of YONNET and Deputy President-General of the Yoruba community in the 19 Northern states, Hon. James Bolorunduro Olorunfemi, made the call during a strategic meeting of Yoruba leaders in Abuja.
Olorunfemi described YONNET as the adopted political platform through which the group seeks to mobilise Yoruba residents across the Northern states and the FCT in support of Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
He said the meeting was convened to strengthen political mobilisation, coordinate grassroots engagement and develop strategies for securing wider support for the President across the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the leaders believe that continuity in government would enable Tinubu to consolidate the gains of his administration and pursue policies aimed at improving the living conditions of Nigerians.
Olorunfemi commended the Tinubu administration for its efforts in infrastructure development, particularly road construction, as well as initiatives in agriculture, healthcare, employment generation and job creation.
He maintained that the administration’s reforms were intended to create opportunities for citizens to improve their livelihoods, become economically productive and participate more actively in national development.
The YONNET coordinator also praised the Federal Government’s economic policies, arguing that the reforms had provided an opportunity to address longstanding structural challenges and improve the capacity of government to fund critical sectors.
He said the administration’s commitment to economic reforms and increased attention to different sectors of the economy should encourage Nigerians to assess its performance and consider continuity in the 2027 elections.
“Nigerians should support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term to enable him to consolidate the reforms and development initiatives his administration has started,” Olorunfemi said, according to the position conveyed at the meeting.
He further urged relevant stakeholders, community representatives and political mobilisers to intensify grassroots campaigns and public sensitisation across Yoruba communities in Northern Nigeria.
He called on community leaders to engage residents through meetings, consultations and other peaceful mobilisation activities to explain the group’s reasons for supporting the President’s re-election.
Olorunfemi said YONNET would work towards strengthening political participation among Yoruba residents in the North, while encouraging them to remain actively involved in the democratic process.
He also argued that the Yoruba community should take a strategic interest in national leadership and political arrangements, stressing the importance of representation, inclusion and the pursuit of the community’s collective interests.
The coordinator urged members of the community to remain united in pursuing their political objectives, while avoiding actions that could undermine peace and cohesion.
YONNET, described by its leaders as a newly established political group emerging from the broader Yoruba community structure, is seeking to mobilise support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition across Northern Nigeria.
The development comes against the backdrop of growing political realignments and mobilisation by various groups ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group operates within the wider Yoruba community leadership structure associated with Barrister Afeez O. Adigun, the President-General, who has reportedly urged members to shun violence and promote unity.
Adigun’s appeal for peaceful engagement underscores the need for political mobilisation to be conducted within the framework of democratic participation, mutual respect and national cohesion.
Political observers will be watching how YONNET translates its resolutions into grassroots activities across the Northern states and the FCT, particularly in communities where political interests and affiliations may differ.
For the group, the immediate task is to build a coordinated mobilisation network capable of reaching Yoruba residents across the region and encouraging their participation in the electoral process.
As preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, YONNET says it intends to sustain its campaign for Tinubu’s re-election, with its leaders urging community members to support what they consider a continuation of the President’s development agenda.
The group’s appeal reflects the growing efforts by political support organisations to consolidate their bases and influence electoral outcomes ahead of the next presidential election.
However, the ultimate decision rests with Nigerian voters, whose participation and choices at the ballot box will determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
