Ardo: North Has Been Short-changed Under Tinubu, May Get Less Than 10% of Votes

Chuks Okocha reported that Dr Umar Ardo, a convener of the League of Northern Democrats and promoter of the All-Democratic Alliance, believes the Tinubu administration has been unfair to the North in resource distribution and political opportunities. During an interview on Frontline, Ardo claimed that if fair elections were held in 2027, Tinubu might only secure less than 10 percent of northern votes.

He emphasized that the disparity between the North and South is evident in the actual release of funds to ministries, with the South receiving significantly more than the North. Ardo argued that the issue goes beyond budgetary allocations, pointing out that the South has received about five times the releases actual funds to ministries compared to the North.

Furthermore, he alleged that many parastatals have been given to the South, reinforcing the perception that the North has not received a fair share under the current administration. Ardo also questioned the distribution of critical political appointments under the Tinubu administration, suggesting that it has created a sense of exclusion among groups in Northern Nigeria.

He acknowledged the ethnic and geographical complexities of Nigeria, stating that the perception of Yorubanization within the administration, giving critical appointments to his own kins and Yorubas, has damaged the administration's standing in Northern Nigeria. Additionally, he noted that some states in the North, such as Kwara and Kogi, are culturally and linguistically strong in the Yoruba culture, further complicating the debate on representation.