2027: North-Central APC Warns Tinubu Against Dropping Shettima

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has rejected calls to remove Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate ahead of the 2027 general election, describing such a move as a serious political error.

The forum, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, responded to reports that some party members were pushing for Shettima’s replacement. Speculation intensified after the vice president’s photo was left off a banner featuring APC leaders from the North-East during the party’s zonal public hearing in Maiduguri on constitutional amendments. The banner included President Tinubu, five governors from the zone, and the party’s National Legal Adviser.

The controversy has reignited debate over the viability of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket for 2027 and Shettima’s political future. Some party stakeholders have suggested replacing him with a Christian from the North-Central region. However, the North-Central APC Forum warned that dropping Shettima would be disastrous for the party and could undermine Tinubu’s re-election prospects.

The forum stressed that the North-Central region is focused on contesting the presidency in 2031, not the vice-presidency in 2027. It argued that injecting religion into the decision would be counterproductive, noting that there is currently no Christian candidate in the North with the grassroots support, national appeal, or political structure to match Shettima’s complementarity with Tinubu.

“Changing a winning ticket is highly risky. We totally reject calls to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate. We advise the President and party leaders not to heed such calls, as it would be a grievous political miscalculation,” the statement read.

The forum accused proponents of Shettima’s removal of acting against the party’s and the President’s interests, claiming they had no intention of supporting Tinubu’s re-election. Analysing voting patterns, the forum said replacing Shettima would not attract new voters but could cost core northern support, potentially benefiting opposition candidates such as Peter Obi of the African Democratic Congress.

“Those calling for a change did not back Tinubu in 2023 and are unlikely to support him in 2027, even if he drops Shettima for a Christian. This would risk alienating core northern voters and strengthen the opposition,” the statement warned.

The forum also dismissed suggestions that foreign powers might pressure Nigeria to abandon the Muslim-Muslim ticket, insisting that Nigeria’s sovereignty must be respected. “The Muslim-Muslim ticket delivered victory in 2023. Nigeria is independent, and no external actor will dictate our political choices,” it said, cautioning that outside interference could undermine democracy and provoke conflict.