APC chieftain Abdulmumin Jibrin has revealed that some northern governors allegedly warned him against supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the early stages of the 2022 presidential campaign.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Jibrin recounted how he became involved in Tinubu’s campaign alongside prominent APC figures including former Osun State governor Bisi Akande, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, and Jimmy Benson.
According to Jibrin, he was aware that several influential figures around former President Muhammadu Buhari were not supportive of Tinubu’s presidential ambition at the time, including some governors from the North.
“When in 2022 we started with Bisi Akande, the former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Jimmy Benson, and we all came together and started the initial process of the campaign. I went to him because I knew that there were a lot of people around the former president who didn’t want him, some of them governors and the rest,” he said.
Jibrin disclosed that Tinubu permitted him to personally engage some northern governors in order to mobilize support. However, he claimed several of them advised him to stay away from the project.
“And I went, and believe me, I swear before man and God, some of the governors told me, ‘Be careful. Stay off this thing. You will destroy yourself.’ I never agreed,” he stated.
He added that after Tinubu eventually won the election, many of those who allegedly opposed him were later appointed into government positions, which he described as a sign of political forgiveness and maturity.
Jibrin also dismissed speculations of any crisis between Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. According to him, their relationship has remained strong since the beginning of the campaign.
He further revealed that Shettima was among the very few northern political figures who openly supported Tinubu during the early phase of the presidential race when many northern politicians were still hesitant to publicly identify with the campaign.