Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Aliyu Gusau, has emerged as a key figure in the North Central geopolitical zone’s push for a power shift in the 2027 general elections, hosting a group of political agitators led by Prof. K’sto Nghargbu on Friday. The delegation, part of the North Central Renaissance Movement, is intensifying efforts to secure the presidency or vice presidency for the region, a goal they pursued further on Saturday with visits to the Onah of Abaji, His Royal Highness Alhaji Musa Baba Yunusa, and Senator John Danboyi.
Prof. Nghargbu, a professor of medical geology and the movement’s leader, confirmed the consultations in a statement released on Saturday, April 5, 2025. He emphasized that the group is engaging “critical stakeholders” across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to build support for their cause. “We are strengthening advocacy for the return of presidency to the zone come 2027 through high-level consultations with prominent figures,” Nghargbu said, underscoring the movement’s mission to address what he described as a “great political setback” for the North Central since independence and the return to democracy in 1999.
The North Central zone—comprising Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory—has never produced a president or vice president in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, a grievance driving the movement’s campaign. Gen. Gusau, a retired general with a storied career as NSA under multiple administrations and a reputation as a northern power broker, lent significant weight to their efforts by hosting the group. Though details of the Friday meeting remain limited, his involvement signals early backing from influential quarters.
Following their engagement with Gusau, the agitators wasted no time, meeting traditional ruler Alhaji Musa Baba Yunusa in Abaji and Senator John Danboyi, a notable political figure, on Saturday. These consultations reflect a deliberate strategy to rally both grassroots and elite support within and beyond the region. Nghargbu’s statement framed the outreach as part of a broader plan to correct decades of political marginalization, noting the zone’s exclusion from the nation’s top offices despite its contributions.
The timing is notable. With the 2023 election having shifted power to the South under President Bola Tinubu (South West) after eight years of northern leadership under Muhammadu Buhari (North West), discussions about 2027 are already heating up. The North Central Renaissance Movement aims to position the region as the next northern contender, challenging the historical dominance of the North West and North East.
Gusau’s role as host aligns with his legacy of quiet influence, from his days as Chief of Army Staff and Minister of Defence to his pivotal contributions during the 1999 democratic transition. The movement’s engagement with figures like the Onah of Abaji and Senator Danboyi further underscores a blend of traditional and political advocacy. However, their ambitions face stiff competition from other zones and entrenched interests, making these early moves critical.
As the North Central Renaissance Movement presses forward, its leaders are banking on high-level endorsements and widespread consultations to turn their vision into reality by 2027. For now, the region’s agitators, bolstered by Gusau’s support, are laying a foundation—one meeting at a time.
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