Deputy National Chairman (North) of All Progressives Congress (APC) Ali Dalori has predicted victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu across the Northeast in the coming election.
He said former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar would suffer defeat even in his own polling unit and home state Adamawa.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja during the graduation of over 1000 women empowered under the Tinubu-Shettima Village-to-Village Movement Dalori said Atiku the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) currently flying the opposition African Democratic Congress’ (ADC’s) flag posed no threat to the ruling party’s electoral prospects in the region.
Dismissing concerns over Atiku’s deep-rooted political footprint in the Northeast the APC chieftain insisted that local political dynamics ongoing federal infrastructure projects and the influence of Vice-President Kashim Shettima would swing the votes in favour of President Tinubu.
‘I don’t think Atiku can win in the Northeast’ Dalori said.
‘Why? Even Adamawa his hometown he will not win even at his polling unit. I assure you of that.’
Highlighting the strategic importance of Vice- President Shettima to APC’s political machinery in the zone Dalori says the region takes pride in having one of its own in the presidency.
‘Kashim Shettima is from Borno State from the Northeast. He is our son. Because of that we can do everything to ensure Tinubu comes back for a second term’ he said.
The APC deputy national chairman said voters in Borno Yobe Adamawa and neighbouring states would evaluate candidates based on tangible infrastructural delivery rather than regional sentiment or past electoral outcomes.
He pointed to key federal road projects underway as major selling points for the administration including Gombe-Bauchi Road Bauchi-Maiduguri corridor Maiduguri-Biu Road and Maiduguri-Gamboru Ngala axis connecting Nigeria to Chad.
Addressing the economic challenges following key policy shifts Dalori defended President Tinubu’s removal of petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms describing them as critical necessary measures designed to stabilise the national economy and fund public infrastructure long-term.
The event which doubled as a major political mobilisation drive saw Ambassador Farida Jauro (Dawisun Mubi) the national coordinator of the Tinubu-Shettima Village-to-Village Campaign pledge to deliver over one million grassroots votes for the President in the North.
Jauro had a personal encounter with President Tinubu during her school days in Lagos citing his generosity and leadership trait as key reasons for her support for his re-election.
Director of Planning for the group Aishata Umar an engineer revealed that 1000 women graduated from the vocational training sponsored by Jauro aimed at fostering economic independence and strengthening family livelihoods.