PGF Backs Tinubu 2027 as First Lady Flags Off Rice, ₦1.2bn Relief for North

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday rallied behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda and pledged support for his re-election in 2027 as the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, flagged off the distribution of 100 trucks of rice and ₦1.2 billion palliative support for vulnerable households across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The endorsement came in Kaduna where the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, led members of the forum to the event attended by governors, ministers, party leaders, traditional rulers and community representatives.

Uzodimma described the intervention as timely and compassionate, saying it would cushion economic hardship being experienced by many families ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

According to him, the distribution of food supplies and financial support reflects the administration’s determination to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind during the ongoing period of economic adjustment.

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He said the First Lady had remained steadfast in supporting the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda by championing humanitarian assistance and social support initiatives across the federation.

“This timely intervention, aimed at easing economic hardship for vulnerable Muslim communities ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir season, was aptly described by the First Lady as a seed of renewed hope,” Uzodimma said.

He added that the gesture would ensure families across the North and the FCT receive relief during an important religious season marked by sacrifice, charity and communal support.

The event marked one of the largest coordinated palliative distributions in recent months, targeting widows, low-income families, persons living with disabilities, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups identified through state structures and community leaders.

Officials said the 100 trucks of rice would be shared among the beneficiary states, while the ₦1.2 billion support fund would help states implement additional household assistance programmes tailored to local needs.

Addressing participants, the First Lady said the intervention was part of a broader commitment to stand with Nigerians during challenging times and to ensure relief reaches those most in need.

She urged state governments, religious leaders and community stakeholders to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution process, stressing that the palliatives were meant for ordinary citizens facing real hardship.

Oluremi Tinubu noted that Eid-el-Kabir is a season of compassion and sacrifice, adding that government and political leaders must demonstrate empathy through practical action.

She said the support package should be seen not merely as material aid, but as a symbol of solidarity with millions of Nigerians who continue to make sacrifices for national recovery.

The event also became a platform for APC governors to publicly defend the administration’s economic reforms, which have included fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, tax restructuring and efforts to boost domestic production.

Uzodimma acknowledged that while the reforms were necessary to rescue the economy from years of distortions, they had also created short-term pain for many citizens.

He said the governors understood the concerns of Nigerians but remained convinced that the measures would deliver long-term benefits, including stronger public finances, increased investment and expanded opportunities.

“While the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are designed to rescue our nation from its previous state, they have understandably come with challenges,” he said.

He noted that state governments had also intensified complementary interventions, including transport subsidies, food support, agricultural programmes and small business grants to cushion the effects of inflation and rising living costs.

According to Uzodimma, the Progressive Governors’ Forum has maintained regular consultations on how best to align state policies with the President’s reform priorities while responding to the welfare needs of citizens.

He said governors from APC-controlled states were seeing signs of improvement in internally generated revenue, investor confidence and infrastructure financing since the reforms began.

Saturday’s gathering in Kaduna also underscored the increasing political role of the First Lady, whose humanitarian outreach programmes have taken her to several states in recent months.

Her engagements have focused on women empowerment, healthcare, youth support, food relief and education initiatives under the Renewed Hope platform.

Political observers say the First Lady’s interventions have helped humanise the reform process by linking policy with direct support for households.

At the event, several northern governors commended her outreach and pledged to work with federal agencies to ensure efficient distribution of the rice and financial support.

Traditional rulers present also praised the intervention, saying it came at a crucial time when many families were preparing for the festive season amid economic strain.

Religious leaders offered prayers for peace, national unity and economic recovery, while urging citizens to remain patient and law-abiding.

The public show of solidarity by APC governors was widely interpreted as an early signal of political consolidation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Though the next presidential contest remains some distance away, party stakeholders have increasingly moved to project unity around Tinubu’s leadership amid opposition realignments and internal jostling in rival parties.

Uzodimma made the position explicit, saying progressive governors recognised the transformative reforms underway and would stand firmly behind the President’s second-term bid.

“These laudable efforts have been widely acknowledged by Progressive Governors, and in recognition of the transformative reforms underway, we remain committed to supporting the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” he said.

His declaration drew applause from party supporters and attendees at the event.

Analysts say the endorsement serves multiple purposes: reassuring markets of policy continuity, strengthening internal party cohesion, and sending a message to opposition blocs that the ruling party intends to contest from a position of unity.

However, some economists note that public support for reforms will depend heavily on whether inflation moderates, jobs expand and household incomes improve over the next two years.

For many ordinary Nigerians, the immediate concern remains affordability of food, transport and essential services.

That reality gave added significance to the Kaduna intervention, where queues formed early as beneficiaries gathered at designated centres for registration and collection.

Women carrying children, elderly citizens and low-income workers were among those who expressed gratitude for the support, saying it would help reduce pressure on household budgets.

Some beneficiaries said a bag of rice had become difficult to afford in recent months and welcomed the distribution as a needed relief.

Others appealed for more regular support, lower food prices and sustained economic measures that would create jobs rather than temporary assistance alone.

Government officials at the venue insisted that palliatives were not a substitute for reforms but a bridge to help vulnerable citizens through the transition period.

They pointed to ongoing investments in agriculture, roads, rail, energy and manufacturing as longer-term strategies expected to lower costs and expand productivity.

Kaduna State officials said the state was honoured to host the regional flag-off and would collaborate with neighbouring states to ensure orderly logistics.

Security agencies maintained a visible presence around the venue, while volunteers and humanitarian workers assisted with crowd management and documentation.

As the event ended, trucks loaded with rice rolled out to onward destinations across the North and the FCT, carrying what organisers described as both food supplies and a message of reassurance.

For the APC governors, the day was about more than welfare distribution. It was also a statement of political confidence in Tinubu’s agenda and an attempt to connect reform with compassion.

For beneficiaries, however, the measure of success may be simpler: whether relief reaches homes quickly and whether broader policies soon make daily life easier.

With Eid-el-Kabir approaching, thousands of households across northern Nigeria will now hope the Kaduna promise translates into real support on the ground.

And as 2027 edges closer, the ruling party appears determined to frame that support as evidence that difficult reforms can coexist with social responsibility and political stability.