The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has disowned the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027 by over 600 senior academics from Northern Nigeria.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said the union remains apolitical and has never endorsed, nor will it endorse, any political party or candidate.
Piwuna said ASUU members were free to support political parties of their choice, but only in their individual capacities and not on behalf of the union.
The reaction followed a closed door stakeholders’ meeting held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Kaduna and convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari.
The academics, reportedly drawn from public universities across the 19 Northern states, declared their support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. The resolution was contained in a communiqué read by the Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa.
However, Piwuna warned against associating the endorsement with ASUU, stressing that the union’s constitution does not allow it to take partisan political positions.
He urged members and other stakeholders not to drag ASUU into the controversy, insisting that the union would maintain its long-standing position of political neutrality.
The Kaduna meeting, themed “Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda: Three Years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Achievements and the Road to 2027,” was attended by several Northern governors and other government officials.
Among those present were Kaduna Governor Uba Sani, Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni, Borno Governor Babagana Zulum, Gombe Governor Inuwa Yahaya and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
ASUU’s clarification comes amid growing political activities and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
