Dr. Ladan Salihu, former Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has predicted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will remain a strong political force in the Northeast ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Salihu made the prediction during an interview with Symfoni TV Monitored by The News Chronicle on Friday, September 4, 2026, while assessing Atiku’s chances in the northern region and the possible voting patterns ahead of the election.
Speaking specifically about Borno State, where Vice President Kashim Shettima has strong political roots, Salihu dismissed the suggestion that Shettima’s influence would prevent Atiku from securing significant votes in the state.
According to him, Shettima’s political influence in Borno should not be interpreted as an automatic guarantee of bloc support for any candidate.
“Kashim Shettima will not make any impact for Atiku Abubakar in Borno State,” Salihu said
He maintained that Atiku’s longstanding political network and history across the Northeast could enable him to perform better in Borno than some analysts may expect, despite Shettima being from the state.
Salihu further projected that Atiku would consolidate substantial support across the Northeast in the 2027 presidential election, describing the region as a key component of the former vice president’s electoral strategy.
He also predicted that Atiku would record strong support in parts of the Northwest while remaining competitive in some southern states.
The ADC chieftain, however, suggested that Labour Party presidential hopeful Peter Obi could face greater challenges in attracting votes across the northern region.
Salihu stressed that the political influence of individual leaders does not necessarily translate into guaranteed electoral support for their preferred candidates.
He said Atiku’s deep-rooted political base, particularly across the Northeast, could become decisive as the ADC prepares for the 2027 presidential contest.
