Fresh cracks have emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) over speculation regarding the vice presidency ahead of the 2027 general elections, with key party figures rejecting calls for a shake-up in President Bola Tinubu’s ticket.
Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, on Tuesday distanced himself from campaigns urging President Tinubu to name him as running mate for 2027, describing the move as “misplaced and ill-timed.” Jibrin, through a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, said such distractions could derail the administration’s focus on national development.
“My attention has been drawn to several posts and publications urging President Tinubu to pick me as running mate in 2027. This is not only premature but also counter-productive,” the senator said.
Jibrin, who also serves as First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, reaffirmed his commitment to Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and called on his supporters to channel their energy toward supporting the President rather than fueling political speculation.
“If you are truly my supporters, the best thing you can do now is rally behind the President. Let us join hands with him to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.
Amid the growing debate, a South-South APC youth coalition held an emergency meeting in Port Harcourt on Monday and issued a warning against any attempts to remove Vice President Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate. The group, led by Aliu Mahmood and Emma Orupe, urged party members to focus on unity and performance, warning that internal wrangling could destabilise the administration.
The coalition called on President Tinubu to remain focused on delivering people-oriented governance and cautioned against what it described as “unnecessary internal distractions.”
However, in a counterposition, APC chieftain and former gubernatorial aspirant in Kebbi State, Salihu Nataro, openly called on Vice President Shettima to resign. Nataro claimed Shettima had lost the President’s confidence and said stepping down would be an act of goodwill and loyalty to the party.
“The ball is now in Shettima’s court. If he is grateful for what Tinubu did for him by picking him up as running mate in 2022 and leaving out those who worked for the party, I can boldly say that if I were in Shettima’s shoes, I would resign from office,” Nataro said.
He also referenced political developments in Gombe State, where internal APC discussions reportedly centred around identifying a new running mate for the President, further intensifying speculation about Shettima’s future.
While no official statement has been issued by the Presidency or Shettima’s office on the matter, the unfolding drama signals early tensions within the APC as it braces for the 2027 electoral cycle.
