The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has rejected moves to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that such a step would amount to a grave political miscalculation.
The Forum’s position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, following reports that some persons within the ruling party were pushing for Shettima’s replacement.
Zazzaga’s statement may not be unconnected with the exclusion of the Vice President’s photograph from a banner bearing images of APC leaders in the North-East during the party’s zonal public hearing on the amendment of its constitution in Maiduguri.
The banner featured Tinubu, five APC governors from the zone and the party’s National Legal Adviser.
Also, last year in Gombe, the capital of Gombe State, Governor Babagana Uamar Zulum led some of his North East colleagues to protest omission and the non-mentioning of the Vice President name during the party’s regional caucus meeting.
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This development, including speculation of paln to drop the vP in the 2027 general election, has sparked mixed reactions over the viability of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2027 and Shettima’s political future. Some stakeholders within the party have reportedly called for his replacement with a Christian from the North.
Some groups from the North-Central have demanded that a Christian from the area replace Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate in the next election.
The North-Central APC Forum has warned that dropping the VP would be disastrous for the party and jeopardise Tinubu’s re-election.
It said the North Central was not demanding for the vice presidential slot, adding that the region is focused on contesting the presidency in 2031 after Tinubu’s tenure.
The Forum faulted the introduction of religious sentiment into political calculations, adding that the North has no Christian candidate who has enough grassroots support, national appeal and political structure to complement Tinubu’s electoral strength as a running mate.
It warned against abandoning the Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying it would only strengthen the opposition in 2027.
“There is serious danger in changing a winning ticket. We totally and unequivocally reject calls and plans to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the next election.
“We sincerely advise President Bola Tinubu and the leaders of the party not to listen to such calls, because such a decision will turn out to be a grievous political miscalculation,” the forum stated.
The Forum lambasted the sponsor of the agitation for acting against the interests of the party and the President.
“They do not want to see President Bola Tinubu re-elected. That is the only reason anybody with political knowledge would make such a request,” the statement said.
According to Forum, the voting patterns in the North would not gain new votes by replacing Shettima, adding that dropping him on religious grounds would lead to a loss of support and votes in the region.
It said if the African Democratic Congress (ADC) fields Peter Obi as its presidential candidate, replacing Shettima would make no strategic difference, as many minorities in the North would still vote for Obi regardless of Tinubu’s running mate.
The Forum therefore warned the President to retain the status quo and keep Shettima to strengthen his chances in 2027., adding that those calling for a change did not support Tinubu in 2023 and would still not vote for him in 2027, even if he bowed to their demands.
Zazzaga said “If you check, you will notice that in 2023, most of their communities voted for Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
“Now if Peter Obi comes out again in 2027 on the platform of the ADC, what is the guarantee they will vote for Tinubu even if he drops Shettima and replaces him with a Christian? That is not going to happen.”
