Minister of State for Defence Mohammed Bello Matawalle has no doubts about the 2027 election: President Bola Tinubu will win a second term.
Matawalle made the declaration on Wednesday through his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Mai Gandi, at a Contact and Sensitisation Retreat in Sokoto. The event was organised by the North-West Tinubu/Matawalle Peace and Unity Initiatives, a group that brings together political and community-based organisations focused on mobilisation and civic engagement across the region.
The minister argued that Nigerians will judge the administration by its policies and performance, not by campaign slogans. He listed security, infrastructure, economic reform and social development as areas where the government has made progress.
According to Matawalle, the administration inherited serious governance and security challenges. He said federal support for the armed forces and other security agencies has been intensified to tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other threats, especially in parts of Northern Nigeria.
He also pointed to economic and human capital development initiatives aimed at promoting growth, expanding opportunities and reducing poverty. The minister urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to stay informed about government programmes and engage constructively in national development.
"The Tinubu administration has continued to implement policies and programmes aimed at addressing challenges in key sectors, including security, infrastructure, economic reform and social development," the minister said through his aide.
Matawalle called on political leaders and stakeholders to support initiatives that promote economic empowerment, grassroots development and national cohesion. He described Tinubu as a leader committed to national development, with policies intended to foster peace, unity and economic progress.
The retreat's Lead Convener, Yusuf Abubakar, said the event was designed to strengthen support networks and create awareness about the administration's programmes. He disclosed that 58 leaders of community groups, associations and youth ambassadors from Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Kaduna states participated.
Abubakar commended Matawalle for backing mobilisation efforts and stakeholder engagement activities across the North-West.
Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, was appointed Minister of State for Defence in 2023 after Tinubu's inauguration. He has been a vocal supporter of the president's security policies, particularly the military campaign against banditry in the North-West.
The 2027 election is still more than a year away, but political camps are already positioning. Tinubu, who won the 2023 election under the All Progressives Congress (APC), hasn't formally declared his intention to run again. But the minister's confidence suggests the president's camp expects him to seek re-election.
The North-West is a critical voting bloc. In 2023, Tinubu won the region with over 2.3 million votes, though the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party also made strong showings. Matawalle's home state of Zamfara, along with Sokoto, Kebbi and Kaduna, will be key battlegrounds in 2027.
For now, the minister is betting that the administration's record — not promises — will carry the day.