Era of winning elections in North solely on Buhari’s endorsement gone – Salihu Lukman

Mallam Salihu Lukman, former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition, has said the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari marks the end of an era when his endorsement almost guaranteed electoral victory.

Speaking on Arise Television on Wednesday, Lukman noted that even before Buhari’s death, his political influence had begun to wane. He emphasized that the ADC coalition must now forge a new path, one grounded in unity and collective responsibility.

“Even before his passing, Buhari’s influence in swinging elections was fading,” Lukman said. “Now that he is no longer with us, his once-powerful endorsements are a thing of the past.”

He stressed the need for humility and collaboration among leaders within the opposition coalition, warning that no single figure in the current political landscape commands the kind of dominance Buhari once held.

“We don’t have anyone with Buhari’s kind of intimidating profile,” he said. “That means leaders in the coalition must be humble, acknowledge their interdependence, and build a team with a shared vision.”

Lukman urged the ADC and its allies to focus not only on defeating the ruling APC and President Bola Tinubu in 2027 but also on presenting Nigerians with a credible, refreshing political alternative.

“It’s not just about beating Tinubu or the APC,” he stated. “It’s about creating a new political template—one that actually delivers on the expectations of Nigerians.”

Reflecting on Buhari’s former political stronghold in the North, Lukman admitted that many northern politicians once relied heavily on the former president’s endorsements to secure electoral success.

“Being from the North, I saw firsthand how politicians would count on Buhari raising their hands at rallies—because that gesture alone often translated into electoral victory,” he said. “That kind of shortcut made many politicians lazy.”

He warned that without a figure like Buhari to rally behind, politicians must now earn support by engaging meaningfully with citizens.

“Today, we don’t have a figure with that kind of influence. So now more than ever, politicians need to listen to the people, keep their promises, and start building trust from the ground up,” Lukman added.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest on Tuesday with full state honors. His passing leaves a vacuum in northern political dynamics and raises new questions for the APC’s future as it heads toward the 2027 elections.