· Shettima’s return as VP divides APC leadership
· Atiku ponders Amaechi, Ihedioha, Duke
By Obinna Nwachukwu and Francis Ekeh
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming 2027 general election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and his counterpart in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON are said to be under pressure by party faithful to name their running mates.
Among the issues under consideration in selecting a Vice-Presidential candidate include, religion, regional/ethnic balancing, party loyalty, personal discipline, integrity, leadership qualities, knowledge of the economy and followership among party members.
In the case of president Tinubu, the choice of who becomes his vice is said to have caused a deep rift among the party leadership. While some want Shettima retained, others want him replaced. A major issue in contention is whether the APC would continue with the current administration’s Muslim-Muslim ticket or pick a Christian as vice president.
In July, 2022 shortly after he won the APC primary, Tinubu officially unveiled Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate following the resignation of the initial placeholder candidate, Ibrahim Masari. They assumed office on May 29, 2023. The APC had defended the action by saying it was strategically made to create a united, progressive leadership focused on the APC’s “Renewed Hope” agenda and to secure crucial political support from the northern geopolitical zones
Shortly before the announcement of Shettima, Ibrahim Masari, who had hitherto served as a ‘placeholder’ for the VP slot, announced his withdrawal from the position. In a letter addressed to the party leadership, Masari said he decided to withdraw from the position after he had a consultation with Tinubu.
Shettima, who at that time was representing Borno Central in the Senate, served as governor of Borno state from 2011 to 2019. He is from the same geopolitical zone -North-east, as Atiku Abubakar, then presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Shettima was one of the early backers of Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos State for the ticket and served as the Director-General of the Tinubu Campaign Organization.
In the build-up to the primary election, Shettima caused a stir when he said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was too nice to be a leader because nice people should be selling “Ice Cream”.
“Osinbajo is a good man. He is a nice man. But nice men don’t make a good leader. Nice men should be selling popcorn and ice cream.” He, however, retracted the statement and noted that he was misquoted.
Aside from the issue of Muslim/Muslim ticket, Tinubu faces questions about his health, academic qualifications, source of wealth and allegations of corruption.
Since their election into office on May 29, 2023, Vice President Kashim Shettima has not ceased to praise Tinubu whom he calls “my boss”, often describing the administration’s reform programme as a difficult but necessary mission to rebuild Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the National Economic Council and state governors recently, Shettima said the reforms represent a covenant with the future and pledged continued support for policies aimed at transforming the nation.
On his part, President Tinubu described Shettima as a reliable ally. He stated this in his 59th Birthday letter to the VP in September, 2025. President Tinubu praised Shettima’s “unwavering commitment to democracy, good governance, and the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that his deputy’s vibrancy, tenacity, and loyalty have strengthened the administration’s drive for national prosperity”
But the above notwithstanding, Daily Newscraft investigations indicate that President Bola Tinubu’s potential decision to retain or drop Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 election is a subject of ongoing political speculation and strategic calculation. Political analysts and strategists who argue for or against this move weigh several critical factors:
Among those asking Tinubu to drop Shettima is a chieftain of the APC Honourable Olu Oke Owo. He stated that the position of vice president is not the birth right of anybody. “When you have a person that is next to you in ranking, you must be able to know his or her level of competence more than onlookers, VP is not a birth right of anybody. If Jagaban realizes that his VP is not delivering he can replace him with a more effective and efficient person and if comfortable with him, he can retain him.
Others argued that the replacement of Senator Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 election would address the Same-Faith Ticket controversy. According to them, dropping Shettima for a Christian running mate could help ease religious tensions and broaden the ticket’s national appeal.
Other reasons they adduce include, that it would shift regional dynamics by picking a different running mate—such as a candidate from the North-Central zone, which they contend would open up new power bases and voting blocs ahead of a heavily contested election. They further alluded to what they called “ President Tinubu’s historical precedent” as Lagos state governor. As Governor of Lagos State, Tinubu changed his deputy multiple times over his two terms, which analysts often cite as an indicator of his willingness to make strategic adjustments to ensure political alignment and smooth governance.
However, many political groups including those within the APC strongly advise against replacing the Vice President, citing the following risks: First, alienating the northern base: Removing Shettima could risk alienating key core northern Muslim voters. Political commentators warn that such a move could weaken Tinubu’s support in the North, potentially causing significant losses at the polls. Secondly, loss of strategic assets: Shettima is viewed by many as a highly competent, loyal, and stabilizing voice within the administration, known for possessing deep intellectual and structural knowledge of the region. Thirdly, it would lead to internal party strife: Many are of the opinion that drastic changes to the presidential ticket could trigger major internal implosions and power struggles within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on the topic, an Arewa leader in the south, Alhaji Musa Saidu in a chat with the media said the president should not succumb to pressure to replace the Vice president , warning that if he does it could weaken his support base in the north.
“If removing Vice President Kashim Shetima will bring problems for Mr President he should retain him.
“Dropping Shetima may not be a good political move for Mr President. This is my candid advice “, he said.
Saidu who is a staunch supporter of the president also urged him to go beyond promises of governors in the north and party leaders to build his support base ahead of the general elections.
He said some of the governors and party leaders promising the president massive votes in the north do not enjoy the political strength they boast of in the media.
“We are talking because we love Mr. President. We are on the street; we know the feelings of the people.
“What some highly placed members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are telling him may not be true . They tell him one thing and tell us something different. Those Mr President think are in charge in the north are not truly on ground.
“The president should not rely on what the party leaders in the north are saying. The outcome of things may shock him if he does. I am very interested in the re-election of Mr President , this is why I am shouting”, he stated.
Nevertheless, the presidency has maintained that running mate selections for future elections are decisions to be determined at the appropriate time by the party and the President himself
On the other hand, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar is yet to decide who would deputize him. Since his emergence as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku has been working round the nation in search of a Vice President candidate that can add real electoral value to his ambition.
The search has taken him across different regions of the country, yet the perfect answer seems to remain out of reach.
He had been directed to former Imo state governor Emeka Ihedioha in the South East, but some persons have advised him that Ihedioha might not give his ambition the value that it deserves. Apart from the fact that Peter Obi’s influence could swallow up whatever Ihedioha or anyone else may try to secure for Atiku in the region, there is also the Hope Uzodinma factor. Many believe Hope Uzodinma would deploy every available strategy to secure the required 25 percent for Tinubu and APC.
Atiku has also looked towards the South- South, with former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi who came second in the ADC Primary and former Cross River state governor Donald Duke. Both names keep popping up. However, some have advised him that with Wike firmly planted in Rivers State, that state may be a no-go area. Not to even talk about the fact that Wike has repeatedly promised to make sure Atiku does not get up to 10 percent of the votes there.
In the South West, it could have been Seyi Makinde. But the Oyo state governor seems very focused on his own ambition and appears unwilling to be distracted by another man’s political journey.
As things stand, Atiku does not seem to have come up with a convincing VP idea. Some people have even suggested that he should pick Kenneth Okonkwo or Dele Momodu. But the Waziri has reportedly rebuked such suggestions, insisting that such calamity will never happen to his ambition.
And that is where the real puzzle lies. With the South East presenting its own complications, the South- South looking increasingly difficult, and the South West offering little encouragement, the road ahead appears more challenging than many imagined.
For now, the question is, who will Atiku and Tinubu eventually pick as running mates?