The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs, Leke Abejide, has urged Yoruba and other non-indigenous communities in Kano State to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abba Yusuf ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Abejide, who represents Yagba West/East and Mopa-Muro Federal Constituency of Kogi State, made the call during an empowerment programme for widows organised by his foundation for y, Igala, Ebira and Bassa communities in Kano.
The lawmaker also announced a N600m interest-free revolving loan scheme for the women to boost their businesses and improve their economic conditions.
He said the initiative was informed by his longstanding relationship with Kano, where he had lived and established his businesses before venturing into politics.
Abejide, who disclosed that he arrived in Kano in February 1993, described the state as his second home, adding that much of his wealth was built through business activities in the state.
He, however, expressed concern that Tinubu secured about 500,000 votes in Kano during the 2023 presidential election despite the sizeable population of Yoruba and other non-indigenous communities.
He urged the beneficiaries to mobilise voters across polling units, wards and local government areas to support Tinubu, Yusuf and other All Progressives Congress candidates in the 2027 elections.
The lawmaker said coordinators would be selected from among the women beneficiaries to monitor and protect the party’s votes, promising further empowerment initiatives for those who sustained their support.
He also disclosed plans to extend the programme to youths and men, particularly unemployed young people, to make them economically self-reliant.
Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who attended the event, urged the communities to support the re-election of Tinubu and Yusuf, citing federal infrastructure projects and ongoing development in Kano.
