APC North-Central Forum rejects calls to drop VP Kashim Shettima, warning that replacing him could jeopardise Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid
The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has rejected renewed calls to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 elections, warning that such a move would amount to a “political miscalculation.”
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The controversy emerged after Shettima’s image was omitted from a banner featuring APC leaders in the North-East zone during the North-East Zonal Public Hearing for constitutional amendments in Maiduguri.
Some party elements have since suggested replacing Shettima with a Christian running mate from the North.
In a statement signed by the forum’s chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the group argued that removing Shettima would endanger Tinubu’s re-election prospects and jeopardise the party’s support in the North.
The forum also noted that the North-Central region is positioning itself for the presidency in 2031 and is not seeking the vice-presidency 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 in the next election,” the statement said.
The forum emphasised that no Christian candidate in the North currently possesses the grassroots support, national appeal, or political structure necessary to complement Tinubu’s electoral strength.
It warned that dropping Shettima could alienate core northern voters and give opposition candidates, particularly Peter Obi of the African Democratic Congress, a strategic advantage.
Addressing concerns over international opinion, the forum insisted that Nigeria is a sovereign nation and should not yield to foreign pressure to alter the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“The Muslim-Muslim ticket gave us victory in 2023. Nigeria is an independent nation and nobody is going to dictate to us,” the statement added.
Calls to replace Shettima first surfaced in July 2025 when APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, endorsed Tinubu for a second term without including the vice president.
The move reportedly sparked protests, forcing former APC national chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje and Salihu to be escorted out of the venue under heavy security.
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The North-Central Forum’s statement underscores ongoing debates within the APC about religious balance, ticket viability, and strategic calculations ahead of the 2027 elections.
