The Atiku Movement (TAM) has issued a strong rebuttal to comments attributed to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over claims suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would enjoy overwhelming electoral support in Northern Nigeria in future elections.
In a statement released from its headquarters, TAM described the Minister’s remarks as “misleading and disrespectful,” insisting that voters in the North remain politically independent and cannot be taken for granted by any political party.
The group rejected the notion that the region would “blindly deliver votes” to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that Northern voters are guided by performance, accountability, and lived realities rather than political persuasion alone.
“It is both tragic and ironic that Bello Matawalle is boasting about political sweeps while the very region he represents is enduring unprecedented economic hardship,” the statement read.
TAM further accused the current administration of being disconnected from the challenges facing ordinary Nigerians, citing rising inflation, food insecurity, and ongoing security concerns as major issues affecting livelihoods across the North.
The movement also challenged the Minister to provide a clear performance scorecard for the Tinubu administration in the region, arguing that development outcomes—not political rhetoric—should determine electoral support.
Among the issues highlighted were economic hardship driven by rising costs of living, persistent insecurity in parts of the Northwest and Northeast, and what it described as inadequate infrastructural and agricultural development.
TAM maintained that Northern voters would make their decisions based on governance outcomes and not political loyalty, adding that the region remains politically conscious and independent.
“The North will vote wisely. The electorate cannot be bought with patronizing political appointments given to a select few elites,” the statement added.
The group reaffirmed its support for accountability in governance and urged political leaders to focus on delivering tangible results rather than engaging in premature electoral rhetoric.
As of the time of filing this report, the Office of the Minister of State for Defence has not issued a formal response to the statement.
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