Northern Votes Are Not Free: A Call For Unity, Demands, And Accountability Ahead Of 2027

As we crawl toward the 2027 elections, a distinct chill hangs in the air—maybe it’s just the dust from the harmattan blowing through the window, or just the weight of years of broken promises. Look, the truth is that the North cannot keep handing over its massive voting bloc for nothing. We’ve seen enough abandoned projects and half-baked announcements to last a lifetime. Misryoum has noted that hope is a currency that has been devalued far too many times in these parts.

This isn’t just about politics. It’s about survival, really. Traditional rulers, scholars, pastors, and our youth need to stop acting like separate islands and start speaking with one voice. It doesn’t matter if the presidential candidate hails from the North or the South; without a signed, written agreement that is actually measurable, we are just chasing shadows again.

There are fourteen things we need to see on paper—non-negotiables. First, that Mambila Hydropower Project has to be finished and actually turned on. Then there’s the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline and the endless road projects like the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano–Maiduguri dual carriage way. We need the Kano–Kaduna rail, the restoration of Lake Chad, and the dredging of the River Niger. It’s a lot, sure, but these aren’t luxuries; they are the floor. If they can’t build the Zaria–Gusau–Sokoto–Kebbi roads or revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company, what are we even doing here?

Oh, and don’t get me started on the security situation—or the constant, grinding harassment at land borders by customs officials. We need a real policy on foreign military presence that doesn’t feel like we’re selling the country’s sovereignty for a pat on the back. It’s all interconnected, isn’t it? The economy, the roads, the peace—it’s all part of the same messy puzzle.

We have the numbers, but numbers without direction are just noise. The Emirs, the community leaders—they need to step up. This isn’t about party colors or tribal lines. It’s about basic dignity. If a candidate wants our support, they need to sign the document. And we need to track every single item on that list.

To the young people and the traders out there—your vote is the only leverage you have. Don’t trade it for a handful of naira or a bag of rice. Hold them accountable. Actually, it’s more than just holding them accountable; it’s about making them fear the consequences of failure. If the North is to have any kind of future, we have to stop being so generous with our loyalty. The time for blind, unconditional support is—well, it’s long gone. 2027 has to be about results, or it’s just another cycle of the same old, tired story.