The North-Central chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against dropping Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, describing such a move as a grave political miscalculation that could damage the party’s electoral fortunes.
The warning was issued on Tuesday by the North-Central APC Forum, following growing speculations within political circles that the ruling party may be considering a change in the vice-presidential slot as part of its 2027 strategy.
Speaking in Abuja, the chairman of the forum, Saleh Zazzaga, said calls to replace Shettima were ill-advised and capable of weakening the party’s support base, particularly in the northern regions where the APC recorded significant votes in the 2023 general election.
According to the forum, retaining Shettima is crucial for party stability and continuity, warning that any attempt to tinker with the Tinubu–Shettima ticket could trigger internal discontent and alienate key voting blocs.
“The APC must avoid actions that could undermine its internal cohesion and electoral strength,” Zazzaga said. “Dropping Vice President Kashim Shettima would not only send the wrong signal to party loyalists but could also cost the APC substantial support across the North.”
The forum noted that the Muslim–Muslim ticket fielded by the APC in 2023, though controversial, proved electorally effective and should not be hastily discarded without a clear and compelling political advantage.
Addressing suggestions that the vice-presidential slot should be ceded to the North-Central or reserved for a Christian candidate in 2027, the group clarified that the region is not laying claim to the position.
“The North-Central is not demanding the vice-presidential ticket in 2027,” the forum stated. “Our focus is on strengthening the party and positioning the zone for a credible shot at the presidency in 2031.”
The warning comes amid renewed debates within the APC over zoning, religious balance, and regional representation ahead of the next general election. Speculation intensified in recent months following Shettima’s absence from some APC promotional materials and banners at party-related events in the North-East, fuelling rumours of a possible shift in strategy.
However, the North-Central APC Forum dismissed such speculations as destabilising, urging the party leadership to prioritise unity over internal politics.
Political analysts say the controversy highlights early fault lines within the ruling party as permutations for 2027 gather momentum, even as President Tinubu has yet to formally declare his intention to seek re-election or announce any decision regarding his running mate.
For now, the APC leadership has remained largely silent on the matter, but the growing public interventions by regional blocs suggest that the debate over the 2027 ticket is far from settled.
Abuja Network News
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