As Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) begins laying the groundwork for the 2027 general election, subtle yet telling cracks are emerging within its ranks—particularly over the political future of Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Amid speculation about whether Shettima will remain on the presidential ticket alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has sought to calm nerves, reiterating that the choice of running mate is contingent on the party’s nomination process, which is expected to formally take place at the APC convention in 2026.
“When I read the report, I dismissed it as a non-issue,” Onanuga told reporters. “In a presidential system, the candidate emerges first and then selects a running mate. That’s what happened under Buhari—he was nominated first and later picked his running mate. You don’t do both at once.”
Onanuga dismissed claims that Shettima is being gradually sidelined.
He drew comparisons to Tinubu’s time as Lagos State governor, where he notably had two different deputies—first Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, who resigned following disagreements, and later Femi Pedro, who left after political ambitions clashed. But Onanuga emphasized these were isolated events dictated by context, not a pattern of behavior.
“It’s wrong to say he has a habit of discarding deputies,” he stated. “Each instance had its own political circumstances.”
Still, internal party events suggest the issue is far from settled. At the APC North East Stakeholders’ Summit held recently in Gombe, tensions surfaced when the party’s National Vice-Chairman (North East), Salihu Mustapha, endorsed President Tinubu’s re-election bid but failed to mention Vice President Shettima.
The omission sparked immediate outrage and nearly led to violence. Mustapha later revealed that he required a heavy security escort to leave the venue. In a follow-up interview, he defended his comments, asserting that running mates are chosen after party primaries and not during early endorsements.
“I could have been lynched,” Mustapha said. “What I said was consistent with constitutional procedure, but emotions ran high.”
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The summit concluded with a belated joint endorsement of the Tinubu–Shettima ticket, but the episode exposed growing uncertainty within the party, particularly among leaders from the North East—the region Shettima hails from.
Reports indicate that key North East governors are divided on the matter. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, a longtime ally of Shettima, reaffirmed his support during the summit, calling the Tinubu–Shettima collaboration “a rare opportunity” for the region.
In contrast, governors from Yobe and Gombe states reportedly adopted more neutral postures, fueling speculation about alternative political calculations.
Political observers have outlined four possible scenarios as APC strategists weigh the 2027 vice presidential slot: retaining Shettima, selecting a northern Christian to provide religious balance, offering the position to NNPP leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to facilitate a defection, or nominating a serving governor from the North or North-West to strengthen regional influence.
The religious composition of the 2023 ticket—both Tinubu and Shettima are Muslims—remains a sensitive topic.
While Onanuga insists that there is no need to revisit the controversy, analysts argue that internal debates over faith and regional representation are likely to play a decisive role as the party shapes its electoral strategy.
The political maneuvering comes as APC faces a critical nine-month window leading to its national convention in 2026. Whether current tensions reflect healthy democratic engagement or deeper strategic repositioning remains to be seen.