Northern Voters Are Dissatisfied With Tinubu’s Govt — Rufai Oseni

Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni has claimed that many voters in Northern Nigeria are dissatisfied with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, warning that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could face an unexpected outcome in the 2027 general election.

Oseni made the remarks on Monday during an analysis of political developments ahead of the elections on Arise Television’s Morning Show.

He argued that the public support some politicians receive during visits to the North should not automatically be interpreted as widespread approval of the Federal Government. According to him, financial inducements and crowds chanting politicians’ names may not translate into votes at the ballot box.

The broadcaster said his assessment was based on his observations of public sentiment and political developments across the region. He acknowledged that his position could attract criticism for generalising the views of Northern residents, clarifying that it reflected his reading of the public mood rather than findings from a single empirical study.

Oseni also referred to public sentiment analysis as part of the basis for his assessment, maintaining that dissatisfaction with the administration could affect the ruling party’s prospects in 2027.

He further questioned whether governors who recently defected to the APC amid divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would remain fully committed to the ruling party during the election campaign.

According to Oseni, some of the governors may have joined the APC because of the crisis within their former party rather than a genuine preference for the ruling platform.

He described the political realignment as an arrangement shaped by circumstances and questioned whether the new entrants would give the APC their full support ahead of the polls.

Oseni maintained that the ruling party should not assume that the presence of defecting governors or public displays of support would guarantee electoral success, arguing that voters’ decisions could differ from the political signals visible at rallies and public gatherings.