Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has distanced himself from calls by northern groups urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider him as a running mate for the 2027 elections.
In a statement released on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Senator Barau described the campaign, led by the Northern Nigeria Progressive Youth Assembly (NNPYA), as ill-timed and counterproductive.
“My attention has been drawn to various posts on social media and in national dailies by groups urging our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to pick me as his running mate come 2027. This is out of place and not in our best interest,” he said.
Barau appealed to the groups to halt the campaign and instead focus their energies on supporting President Tinubu’s administration and the ongoing implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“If you are truly my supporters, please desist from this unnecessary clamour. Let us rally around President Tinubu as he works to restore the country’s prosperity,” he added.
Barau, who also serves as the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, reaffirmed his commitment to the success of the Tinubu administration, urging all Nigerians to prioritize national unity and development over political speculation.
“This is not the time for political distractions. What should be paramount is the success of the President’s efforts to address the nation’s challenges. His administration is already making progress, and we must all support it,” he said.
