Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has expressed confidence that the people of the state will vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Mr Radda said Katsina’s support for Tinubu is rooted in the state’s longstanding political relationship with leaders from the South-West and the perceived benefits of the current administration.

The governor pointed to Katsina’s historical support for South-West presidential candidates, recalling the state’s backing of the late Chief Moshood Abiola during the 1993 presidential election.

He also referenced the political relationship between Katsina and South-West leaders, including the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Tinubu.

Mr Radda argued that the relationship has been reciprocal, with South-West political leaders also supporting prominent Katsina figures, including former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Radda backs Tinubu for 2027

Mr Radda said the state’s support for Tinubu should not be viewed as a temporary political arrangement.

He maintained that Katsina has already endorsed Tinubu as its preferred presidential candidate for 2027, while also backing Radda for another term as governor.

At an APC stakeholders’ gathering earlier this year, Radda declared that Katsina would deliver strong support for Tinubu, saying the state’s performance could rival or surpass that of Lagos.

APC claims strong structure

The governor also cited the strength of the APC’s political structure in Katsina as a major reason for his confidence.

According to the state government, all 34 local government chairmen, 361 councillors and elected state and federal lawmakers in the state are APC members.

The state has also witnessed defections into the APC from opposition parties, with the ruling party presenting the development as evidence of growing grassroots support ahead of 2027.

Katsina is politically significant in the North and has traditionally been an important electoral base for presidential candidates.

The governor’s position therefore signals the APC’s confidence that Tinubu can retain strong support in the state in 2027, even as the president faces opposition challenges and public concerns over the economy and security.

Mr Radda has maintained that the APC’s performance in Katsina, combined with the party’s grassroots structure and the state’s historical political alliances, will translate into electoral support for Tinubu.