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Former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office, urging Nigerians, particularly those in the Middle Belt, to support his re-election in 2027.
Danjuma made his position known at the 20th anniversary celebration and fundraising ceremony of the Adamawa State Government House Chapel in Yola on Saturday, November 7, 2026. He was represented at the event by former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamaiyi, who conveyed his appeal for support for the president.
The retired general argued that Tinubu deserves another term to complete the programmes and projects his administration has started. He also praised the president for appointing Christians to important government positions, describing the appointments as evidence of fairness and tolerance.
His endorsement comes as the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensifies efforts to strengthen its support across northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Danjuma’s standing in military, political and Christian circles gives the declaration particular significance in states where the ruling party faces strong opposition.
The states likely to attract attention include Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, Benue and parts of Kaduna. These areas have considerable political and religious diversity, and their voting patterns could influence the outcome of the next presidential election.
Danjuma’s influence is especially relevant in Taraba, his home state, where political leaders and sections of the electorate have long regarded him as an influential figure. In the 2023 presidential election, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar won Taraba with 189,017 votes. Peter Obi came second with 146,315 votes, while Tinubu received 135,165.
The political situation has since changed following Governor Agbu Kefas’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in December 2025. His alignment with the ruling party gives Tinubu access to a stronger political structure in the state than he had during the previous presidential election.
However, the governor’s defection does not automatically guarantee that his former supporters will vote for Tinubu. The APC will still need to convince voters who supported Atiku and Obi in 2023.
Adamawa presents another important political test. Atiku secured 417,611 votes in his home state in 2023, defeating Tinubu, who polled 182,881 votes. Obi received 105,648 votes.
Danjuma’s appeal for Tinubu’s re-election at a major gathering in Yola could influence political discussions among sections of the state’s Christian community and political establishment. However, Atiku’s longstanding political relationships in Adamawa make it difficult for the APC to assume that the endorsement will automatically change the state’s voting pattern.
Plateau and Benue also remain important to Tinubu’s re-election calculations. Both states have experienced serious security challenges, and concerns about attacks on rural communities, displacement and the protection of farmland continue to shape political discussions.
In the 2023 presidential election, Obi defeated Tinubu in Plateau, securing 466,272 votes against the APC candidate’s 307,195. Atiku received 243,808 votes. The result exposed the difficulty Tinubu faced in winning support across the state’s predominantly Christian communities.
Benue produced a much closer contest. Tinubu won with 310,468 votes, narrowly ahead of Obi, who received 308,372. Atiku polled 130,081 votes. The narrow margin means that even a modest shift in voter preference could affect the outcome of another presidential contest in the state.
The APC has since strengthened its political position in both states. Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang joined the ruling party in January 2026, while the state’s APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, remains an influential figure in the party’s national structure.
These developments give Tinubu’s campaign additional political advantages, although party defections and endorsements do not necessarily translate into automatic support from voters.
Kaduna is another state where the ruling party will seek to improve its performance. Atiku won the state in 2023 with 554,360 votes, while Tinubu received 399,293 and Obi secured 294,494.
Southern Kaduna could remain particularly important because of longstanding concerns about insecurity, communal relations and political representation. The APC will need to demonstrate that its administration can address these concerns if it hopes to attract more support from communities that opposed Tinubu in the previous election.
Danjuma’s endorsement also comes against the background of the controversy surrounding the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2023. Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s joint candidacy generated opposition from several Christian organisations and political leaders.
By highlighting the appointment of Christians to senior government positions, Danjuma has offered an argument in support of the administration’s record on religious inclusion. The APC could use this position to engage voters who expressed reservations about the presidential ticket during the last election.
However, political appointments alone may not resolve the concerns of communities affected by repeated attacks and displacement. Voters in Plateau, Benue and Southern Kaduna will also assess the government’s performance on security, justice and the protection of livelihoods.
The endorsement followed a meeting between Tinubu and a delegation of northern political leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, November 5. The delegation included Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Taraba Governor Agbu Kefas, former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Defence Minister Christopher Musa and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.
After the meeting, Dogara said the delegation had expressed solidarity with the president and discussed political cooperation, security and efforts to mobilise support for his administration.
At the chapel fundraising ceremony, Danjuma also pledged ₦250 million towards the expansion of the Adamawa State Government House Chapel and the provision of residential accommodation for its chaplain and deputy chaplain.
His endorsement gives Tinubu an opportunity to strengthen relationships with influential figures and communities across parts of the Middle Belt and North-East. Nevertheless, the region’s political diversity means that no single endorsement can guarantee a decisive shift in voting patterns.
The 2027 contest will depend on several factors, including the performance of the federal government, the opposition’s ability to mobilise supporters and voters’ assessment of security and economic conditions.
Danjuma has publicly declared his support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition. Whether that support translates into significant electoral gains in Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, Benue and Kaduna will become clearer as political campaigns gather momentum.
