Northern Supporters Who Delivered Tinubu Now Switch to Olawepo-Hashim

June 27, 2026 4 min read

A coalition of northern political supporters who claim responsibility for delivering President Bola Tinubu's election victory have announced a significant shift in allegiance, declaring their backing for opposition candidate Olawepo-Hashim ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group, speaking through Vanguard News, confirmed their decision to pivot their political capital away from the current administration and toward the Accord party candidate. Katsina, the political stronghold that provided crucial votes for Tinubu in 2023, now appears to be the epicentre of this realignment.

The Political Calculation Behind the Switch

The northern supporters, who have yet to release a formal membership list or leadership structure, issued their statement through local media outlets in Katsina, signalling a coordinated effort rather than an organic grassroots movement. Their claim of delivering victory for Tinubu rests on the substantial voter turnout recorded across several northern states during the 2023 presidential election. Political analysts in Abuja suggest this announcement represents the first major crack in the Tinubu coalition ahead of the 2027 cycle.

Olawepo-Hashim, whose full political platform remains under development according to Accord party officials, has positioned himself as an alternative to the current administration's economic policies. The businessman-turned-politician has criticised what he describes as the failure of current monetary and fiscal strategies to address inflation and unemployment. His campaign team confirmed receipt of the northern endorsement but has not released detailed policy proposals in response.

Economic Implications for Investors

Market observers are closely monitoring the political developments in Nigeria's north, where agricultural commodities and oil sector investments remain concentrated. A fragmented governing coalition could complicate the passage of the 2027 budget and delay infrastructure spending programmes that private contractors have pencilled into their revenue forecasts. Currency traders on the parallel market have already begun adjusting their models to account for increased political uncertainty heading into the election year.

Business Confidence at Stake

Corporate investors with operations in northern Nigeria face a more complex regulatory environment if political tensions rise ahead of the 2027 vote. Manufacturing firms in Kano and Kaduna rely on government infrastructure contracts to maintain profit margins, and any perception of electoral instability could trigger a delay in capital expenditure plans. Banking sector executives in Lagos have instructed their risk assessment teams to include northern political dynamics in their quarterly projections.

The international business community typically views fragmented political endorsements as a precursor to electoral disputes. Several multinational companies with Nigerian operations maintain contingency plans that assume a contested result, according to corporate filings reviewed by financial news services. The timing of this announcement, coming nearly two years before the election, gives the Tinubu administration an opportunity to shore up support in the region through targeted development spending.

What Tinubu's Team Must Address

The presidency has not issued an official response to the northern supporters' announcement, though sources within the All Progressives Congress indicated that party strategists are analysing the implications for their 2027 campaign messaging. Several APC governors from the northern region are expected to meet in the coming weeks to coordinate a response and assess whether the endorsement shift reflects broader voter sentiment or merely represents a vocal minority. Economic advisors to the president have reportedly flagged the political development as a potential risk to foreign direct investment flows.

Regional Power Dynamics in Focus

Katsina has long served as a bellwether for northern political sentiment, and the state's alignment in 2027 could determine whether Tinubu secures a second term or faces a genuine electoral challenge. The switching of political allegiances among established support groups raises questions about the durability of coalition politics in Nigeria's northern regions. Local businessmen in Katsina have privately expressed concern that prolonged political uncertainty could deter the state government from pursuing planned industrial development projects.

What to Watch Next

Olawepo-Hashim is scheduled to address supporters in Abuja next month, where he is expected to outline his economic programme and formally accept the northern endorsement. The Accord party must file its candidate nomination papers with the electoral commission before the end of the second quarter. Separately, the Tinubu administration's 2025 budget presentation to the National Assembly will serve as an early indicator of whether the president intends to prioritise northern constituencies in response to the endorsement loss. Market participants should track any statements from the Central Bank of Nigeria regarding currency policy ahead of the political season.