By Israel Adamu, Jos
The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has rejected moves to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 election, warning that such a decision would amount to a serious political miscalculation.
The forum’s position follows recent indications that some elements within the ruling party are pushing for Shettima’s removal. Speculation intensified after the vice president’s image was omitted from a banner displayed at the APC North-East Zonal Public Hearing on the party’s constitution in Maiduguri. The banner featured President Bola Tinubu, five APC governors from the zone and the party’s national legal adviser.
The development has reignited debate over the future of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, with some stakeholders calling for Shettima’s replacement by a Christian candidate from the North. Groups from the North-Central have also suggested that the region should produce Tinubu’s running mate in 2027.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday, the North-Central APC Forum warned that dropping Shettima would be dangerous for the party and could jeopardise Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The forum said the North-Central was not interested in the vice-presidential slot, stressing that the region is positioning itself for the presidency in 2031, after Tinubu’s tenure.
In the statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the forum cautioned against injecting religious sentiment into political calculations. It argued that the North currently lacks a Christian candidate with the grassroots support, national appeal and political structure required to complement Tinubu’s electoral strength.
“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,” the statement said.
The forum described those pushing for Shettima’s removal as people who do not mean well for the party or the president, insisting that replacing him would only benefit the opposition.
According to the group, Tinubu would not gain new votes by dropping Shettima. Instead, it warned that such a move could lead to a loss of support in the North, especially among core APC voters.
The forum further argued that even if the opposition coalition backed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) fields Peter Obi as its presidential candidate, replacing Shettima would not alter voting patterns in the North, as many minority voters would still back Obi regardless of Tinubu’s running mate.
The APC Forum advised the president to maintain the status quo, insisting that the Muslim-Muslim ticket delivered victory in 2023 and remains the party’s strongest option for 2027.
It also dismissed suggestions that international pressure, particularly from Western countries, should influence the party’s choice of candidates, stressing that Nigeria is a sovereign nation.
“Nobody is going to dictate to us,” the statement said, warning that external interference could undermine Nigeria’s democracy and fuel unnecessary tensions.
