Tinubu Controls Support of Nearly All 36 State Governors Ahead of 2027, Claims Galadima

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Buba Galadima, has stated that President Bola Tinubu currently commands the backing of “34 and a half” of Nigeria’s 36 state governors ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the inauguration of the NDC reconciliation committee, Galadima asserted that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde remains the sole governor firmly standing in full opposition to the President’s camp.

According to Galadima, opposition figures like Abia State Governor Alex Otti are aligned with the President, while Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed represents the “half” status. He disclosed that Governor Mohammed backed out of a planned defection to the NDC at the last minute following advice regarding competing with strong presidential contenders.

“President Tinubu has 34 and a half governors. The only governor that is not with him is Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. Alex Otti of Abia State is there… The half is Governor Bala Mohammed. We met with him until 3 am, and he was supposed to defect the next day, but he called us in the morning saying he has changed his mind because he was advised not to move to a party with a strong presidential candidate,” Galadima stated.

Galadima added that Governor Mohammed remains politically unaligned and could potentially work with either the NDC or the ruling All Progressives Congress in the upcoming political cycle.

These comments follow a series of high-profile political realignments and defections across the country that have significantly expanded the ruling party’s influence among state executives, leaving very few governors outside the President’s political umbrella ahead of 2027.