“I’m 100% Loyal to Tinubu” – Barau Addresses 2027 Running Mate Speculation

Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has responded to growing calls suggesting he might become President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election, declaring his full loyalty to the President and stating he will carry out whatever directive is given to him.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Barau—who represents Kano North Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress (APC)—stressed that now is not the time for politicking but for focused governance.

“Mr. President is my political father,” Barau said. “He stood by me during critical periods—he ensured I got the Senate ticket in 2023 and supported my emergence as Deputy Senate President. If he asks me to work with him, I will say ‘thank you, sir’ and do it. I’m 100% loyal to him.”

Barau, reacting to mounting pressure from political groups lobbying for him as a potential vice-presidential candidate, described the calls as premature. He urged his supporters to concentrate instead on helping the Tinubu administration succeed.

“I thank those groups for believing in me,” he said, “but I told them, instead of wasting energy on things that are not relevant now, focus on supporting the President’s efforts to reshape this country for the better.”

He highlighted President Tinubu’s reform-driven agenda and affirmed his commitment to national development over ambition, noting that both he and the President share the same ideological foundation.

“We come from the same political family. We are progressives to the core. We cherish loyalty and service. I am a progressive and I am 100% loyal to Mr. President,” he added.

Barau’s comments reinforce his position within the ruling party as a loyal ally of the President, as the 2027 political season continues to draw early attention despite official warnings to focus on governance.