Support group targets 6m middle belt votes for Tinubu, Shettima
The Pan-Middle Belt Movement for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 (PANMMTS) has commenced grassroots mobilisation, targeting six million votes for President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 elections.
Speaking during the inauguration of its national leadership in Abuja, PANMMTS Convener, Edward Auta, said the movement was established to provide a platform for meaningful political participation by people of the region.
“PANMMTS leadership will coordinate political mobilisation and promote the interests of the region.
“Our target deliverable is a minimum of six million votes for the President and the Vice-President in 2027 from the Middle Belt,” Auta said.
He said achieving the target would require sustained mobilisation from the national level down to states, local government areas and communities.
The Patron of the movement, Mr Samuel Atung, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged members to overcome what he described as the “minority syndrome” and place collective interests above individual differences.
Atung said the Middle Belt shared a common destiny and should work together despite differences in ethnicity, faith and political affiliations.
He cited federal appointments and development projects under the Tinubu administration, including the establishment of a university and Federal Medical Centre in Southern Kaduna, as some of the administration’s interventions in the region.
The movement resolved to commence grassroots mobilisation immediately, with state structures expected to extend to the LGA level.
It also plans to seek a meeting with Shettima to present its structure and objectives and discuss issues affecting the Middle Belt.
Members were tasked with engaging governors, legislators, traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, as well as other stakeholders, as part of the mobilisation drive.
The movement said its activities would focus on electoral mobilisation, development, security, infrastructure, education and healthcare.
Its Director of Media and Publicity, Bomba Dauda, called for a coordinated media strategy and the dissemination of credible information by members to strengthen public communication.
The movement also announced plans to hold a national executives’ retreat on team building and strategic planning ahead of the 2027 elections.
Newsmen report that the movement was initiated by Sen. Sunday Mating in collaboration with other stakeholders.
It has Vice-President Kashim Shettima as grand patron