2027: Aso Rock In A Fix Over Vice President Shettima As APC Insiders Weigh Options
The political atmosphere within Nigeria’s presidency appears increasingly delicate as discussions intensify over the choice of a running mate for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
Investigations by The Tribune indicate that insiders within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are divided over the best approach to handle the question surrounding Vice-President Kashim Shettima and the composition of the presidential ticket for the next election.
Sources within the Presidency told the newspaper that although there have been no public disagreements between Tinubu and Shettima, influential figures within the president’s political circle had, more than a year ago, quietly concluded that the president might not contest the 2027 election alongside his current deputy.
The reasons behind the position remain unclear. However, insiders suggest that the considerations may be both political and strategic. Despite the speculations, the vice-president is said to have remained firm and unwilling to yield ground to those reportedly pushing for a change.
A senior party source told the newspaper that one of the concerns within the president’s camp is that retaining Shettima in 2027 could make it difficult to present another candidate as a successor in 2031, should President Tinubu complete a second term.
According to the source, even if circumstances eventually compel the president to retain Shettima on the ticket, there is growing sentiment among some strategists that another northerner could eventually emerge as the preferred successor after 2031.
The issue of religious balance has also surfaced in internal discussions. Some party figures believe the ruling party may need to consider balancing the presidential ticket along religious lines, particularly in light of the protest votes recorded during the 2023 election that boosted the candidacy of Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
However, others argue that the challenge lies in identifying a strong northern Christian politician capable of commanding broad support across the region. The debate has reportedly gained attention following remarks by the United States during recent diplomatic engagements with Nigeria, where concerns about religious balance in the country’s leadership were raised.
Within the party, opinions remain sharply divided. While some insiders insist that the Muslim-Muslim ticket remains the central issue, others maintain that the president must still look to the North-East geopolitical zone in choosing a running mate if he hopes to consolidate electoral support in the region.
Should that option prevail, some party figures have reportedly mentioned former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, a Christian from Bauchi State. However, his chances are believed to be limited by the fact that he comes from a minority bloc within the state, raising doubts about his ability to mobilise large votes across the region.
Further discussions within the presidency are said to include the possibility of replacing Shettima with the current Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, who is widely viewed as a respected professional with acceptance across parts of northern Nigeria.
A source familiar with the internal deliberations noted that Shettima still enjoys strong backing among the Kanuri political bloc, which remains largely united behind him.
“The difficulty is that no one has clearly pointed to any offence committed by the vice-president within the Villa,” the source said. “That makes it harder for his supporters to accept the arguments for replacing him.”
Another insider suggested that the unusual silence within the political space reflects the sensitive nature of the matter and the internal challenges the APC faces in resolving it before the party’s primaries.
The vice-president’s camp, according to sources, is also watching developments around the office of the APC national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, whose name has equally surfaced in discussions as a possible alternative for the 2027 ticket.
Party insiders admitted that several issues remain unresolved within the ruling party despite its growing political influence and the alignment of nearly 30 state governors within its fold.
“There are matters we have deliberately left under the table for now,” a senior party figure said, noting that the leadership of the party is proceeding with caution as the 2027 political calculations gradually take shape.
