The Tinubu Must Go Movement (TMG) is attracting attention in Northern Nigeria amid growing concerns over economic hardship, insecurity and demands for improved governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Barrister Hamza Nuhu Dantani, a co-founder of the movement, said the campaign was driven by the economic challenges facing Nigerians and the need for greater accountability from the Federal Government.
Dantani maintained that the movement was not motivated by personal animosity towards President Bola Tinubu but by concerns about his administration’s policies and their effects on ordinary citizens.
“We do not hate President Tinubu as a person. Our concern is with his administration, its policies, and their impact on the lives of ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
He identified rising petrol prices, the increasing cost of essential commodities and persistent insecurity as some of the major issues fuelling public dissatisfaction.
According to him, TMG is demanding economic relief, improved security, accountability and leadership that prioritises the welfare of Nigerians.
Dantani also stressed that the movement would remain peaceful and committed to demanding better governance, regardless of the political party in power.
“Our loyalty is not to any individual or political party; it is to the Nigerian people and the future of our country,” he said.
He added that the movement would hold any future administration accountable if it failed to fulfil its campaign promises.
Analyst weighs TMG’s potential impact on 2027 elections
Political analyst and National Vice-President of the Nigerian Political Science Association, Professor Murtala Muhammad, said the movement appeared to be attracting support among some young people in Northern Nigeria.
Muhammad attributed the growing interest to changing political attitudes, socioeconomic challenges and increasing demands for accountable leadership.
“TMG appears to have gained considerable acceptance among a segment of the youth population in Northern Nigeria, reflecting evolving political consciousness, prevailing socioeconomic realities, and growing demands for accountable governance,” he said.
However, the analyst cautioned that increased public attention would not automatically translate into electoral success.
He said the movement’s ability to influence the 2027 elections would depend on its organisational structure, grassroots presence, geographical reach and capacity to mobilise voters.
On whether TMG could help opposition parties defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammad said the movement could contribute to political realignment but would not necessarily dislodge the ruling party on its own.
According to him, electoral outcomes depend on several factors, including public dissatisfaction, the credibility of opposition candidates, effective mobilisation, coalition-building and the ability to translate political support into votes.
He explained that TMG could influence results in closely contested constituencies if it successfully mobilised dissatisfied voters, attracted undecided citizens and encouraged cooperation among opposition parties.
“If TMG can mobilise disillusioned voters, attract undecided constituencies, and facilitate strategic cooperation among opposition forces, it could significantly influence electoral calculations in competitive constituencies,” he said.
Muhammad added that the movement would need to transform public discontent into sustained political mobilisation to make a significant impact on the country’s electoral landscape.
Economic hardship, insecurity shape political sentiment in the North
The analyst further cautioned against attributing any potential decline in President Tinubu’s or the APC’s popularity in Northern Nigeria solely to the emergence of TMG.
He said political attitudes across the region were influenced by several factors, including economic performance, insecurity, the cost of living, relations between federal and state governments, established political networks and the credibility of opposition parties.
Muhammad noted that the movement could provide an additional platform for Nigerians dissatisfied with the government to express their concerns, but said its actual influence on the APC’s support base would require further evidence.
He identified credible opinion polls, constituency-level assessments and systematic analyses of voting intentions as important tools for measuring the movement’s political strength.
“The fundamental question is whether the movement can convert existing discontent into sustained political mobilisation capable of reshaping the North’s electoral landscape in 2027,” he said.
Comments