Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former aide to President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday warned presidential candidates that coming from the North does not automatically mean them getting votes from the region in 2027.

Baba-Ahmed spoke on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday.

He said, “Most northerners have moved away from the idea that just coming from the North is enough to get our votes. From the southern part of the country there are a good number that have learnt their lessons from simply voting for a candidate.

“If coming from the southern part of the country is an advantage, why does it have to be a Yoruba man being President for four years, why not pick Edo man or somebody from the South-East?”

The former presidential aide noted that Nigerians would not vote based on regional sentiment but their sufferings.

“I don’t think Nigerians would vote purely on regional terms, I think Nigerians will look at how we are being killed everyday on the street, how poverty has eaten deep, they might vote for good candidates like the ones we are fielding and then we can make a change.

“I think we are over rating this idea that coming from one part of the country qualifies you or puts you at a disadvantage of winning an election,” Baba-Ahmed added.

The political leader of Uyo Senatorial District in Akwa Ibom State, Senator Effiong Bob, has reminded  critics and those bent on ousting Governor Umo Eno in 2027 that the goalpost can never  be shifted while a match is going on.

He noted that the governor’s tenure should be allowed to run its full course.

Speaking with journalists in Uyo on Thursday, Bob urged those who want to contest for governorship or any other elective office to embrace issue based campaigns and not to resort to personal attacks on Governor Eno.

He added that the people of Uyo Senatorial District, where the governor comes from, will not allow anyone to either truncate the conventional eight year tenure for the governor or to embark on venomous attacks on his person.

“You cannot shift the goalpost while the match is on. He has just completed the third year in his first term. The governor’s mandate should run its full course.

“Uyo Senatorial District would not stand by and see our governor, that is supposed to do and will do eight years, being rubbished. If you want to contest an election, go and contest your election. Leave the governor alone,” he said.

Bob added, “We will resist every attempt, I mean every attempt, to bring down the governance structure of Umo Eno as a governor at this time.

“Anybody that wants to contest election should articulate what you are going to do, which you feel the governor has not done, and then, when you are there, you will do better.”

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has faulted ex-governor Ayodele Fayose for endorsing Governor Biodun Oyebanji, insisting that the governor’s performance does not justify such support.

Oluyede spoke during an interactive session with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, where he dismissed suggestions that Fayose’s political weight would significantly influence the outcome of the forthcoming governorship election.

While acknowledging Fayose’s right to support any candidate of his choice, the PDP chieftain maintained that the former governor had made the wrong political judgment by throwing his weight behind the incumbent administration.

According to him, endorsements should be based on measurable achievements and governance outcomes, arguing that the current administration has fallen short of expectations in critical areas, particularly security and infrastructure.

“I respect Fayose and his right to support whoever he wants. We have no personal issues. But if you ask me, he has made the wrong choice in supporting this government,” Oluyede said.

The governorship hopeful expressed surprise that Fayose would endorse the administration despite what he described as glaring governance deficiencies.

He argued that the benchmark for evaluating government performance should be much higher, adding that the endorsement raises questions about the standards being applied in assessing the administration.

“I am disappointed because it suggests that the threshold for endorsing a government has become very low. If you look at the realities on the ground, particularly in security and public service delivery, there is little basis for such an endorsement,” he stated.

Oluyede, however, ruled out any confrontation with the former governor over his political position, saying Fayose is entitled to his convictions just as others are entitled to theirs.

He stressed that the forthcoming governorship election would ultimately be determined by the people of Ekiti State rather than by endorsements from political leaders.

“The people will decide. This election will not be won by endorsements or political declarations. Ekiti people are intelligent and will assess the performance of those seeking their mandate,” he said.

The PDP candidate also used the opportunity to raise concerns about the security situation in the state, alleging that many residents now live in fear due to increasing criminal activities.

He criticised what he described as government’s inadequate response to security challenges, poor condition of police facilities and the lack of modern security infrastructure needed to effectively combat crime.

According to him, no government can claim success when citizens are afraid to move freely or attend social and community functions.

Oluyede further questioned the utilisation of security votes allocated to the state, insisting that greater transparency and accountability are needed in the management of public resources devoted to security.

On national politics, he reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu, stating that his backing for the President predates current political alignments and is based on his belief that Tinubu remains the best person to lead Nigeria at this time.

He recalled supporting Tinubu’s presidential ambition before joining the APC, insisting that his position was driven by conviction rather than political expediency.

While acknowledging the economic and governance challenges facing the country, Oluyede maintained that the President’s efforts would yield greater results if state governments effectively translated available resources into improved security, infrastructure and public services for citizens.