The Arewa Youth Assembly has declared support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027, insisting that the presidency should remain in the South until 2031 in line with Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement.

Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the group’s spokesperson, Mohammed Sanni, alleged that some governors were attempting to destabilise the ruling All Progressives Congress to frustrate Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

Sanni linked the alleged moves to the recent tensions within the Progressive Governors’ Forum, where reports emerged of divisions among governors loyal to Hope Uzodimma and those aligned with Dapo Abiodun.

According to him, efforts to remove Uzodimma as chairman of the forum resembled the political crisis that preceded the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general election.

Sanni said although every Nigerian had the constitutional right to political participation, abandoning the zoning arrangement before 2031 could create instability and undermine the country’s political balance.

He alleged that opponents of Tinubu intended to use divisions within the governors’ forum to weaken the administration ahead of the next election cycle.

Drawing comparisons with events before the 2015 election, Sanni recalled the division within the Nigeria Governors’ Forum under former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, which he said contributed to Jonathan’s loss.

The Arewa Youth Assembly spokesperson, however, said attempts to create a parallel leadership within the Progressive Governors’ Forum failed because the majority of governors reportedly remained loyal to Uzodimma.

He added that the support of northern governors for Uzodimma reflected the region’s commitment to allowing Tinubu complete two terms in office before power returns to the North in 2031.

Sanni also called on Peter Mbah and Abiodun to apologise to Tinubu, the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Uzodimma and the APC over what he described as an “aborted palace coup.”

He further urged the Ogun and Enugu State Houses of Assembly to begin impeachment proceedings against the two governors over allegations that they instigated crisis within the ruling party.