APC Dismisses 2027 Running Mate Rumours, Insists Shettima Remains Tinubu’s Partner

Nigeria’s ruling APC has dismissed claims that Vice President Kashim Shettima may be dropped ahead of 2027, calling the reports baseless and warning against speculation that could destabilise the party and polity.

APC Pushes Back on 2027 Speculation, Reaffirms Confidence in Shettima

Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved swiftly to shut down growing speculation that Vice President Kashim Shettima could be replaced as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s running mate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a strongly worded statement, the party described the reports as “purely speculative, untrue and utterly baseless,” urging the media and political commentators to refrain from amplifying what it called rumours designed to sow division and confusion.

The controversy follows renewed debate over whether the APC might reconsider the Muslim–Muslim ticket that carried Tinubu and Shettima to victory in the 2023 presidential election. While some political observers have floated the idea of recalibrating the ticket for broader appeal, party leaders appear determined to stamp out any suggestion that such discussions are taking place.

The APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the party had observed a “growing media frenzy” over an alleged plan to substitute the Vice President.

“While these stories have been mostly subtle, they recently assumed a new dimension when names of specific individuals were touted as possible replacements for Vice President Shettima,” the statement said.

The party warned media organisations against giving space to unverified claims, stressing that the rumours are not rooted in any official party process.

“Our party states in categorical terms that the stories are purely speculative, untrue and utterly baseless. We urge media organisations to refrain from lending their platforms to rumour-peddlers and mischievous ‘news sources’ of questionable provenance whose only intention is to promote discord and confusion in the polity,” it added.

Musawa’s Caution from the North

The issue gained momentum following comments by the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, who cautioned against any attempt to abandon the Muslim–Muslim ticket or drop Vice President Shettima.

Musawa argued that political realities in northern Nigeria make such a move risky.

“If there is no Hausa, Fulani or Kanuri Muslim on that ticket, it creates a hurdle. That is the reality of the way people think,” she said.

According to her, politics in the North is deeply shaped by identity, history, and voter mobilisation. The region, she noted, is highly sensitive to representation and symbolism.

“The core north states, like Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto, understand politics at a very deep level. Politics is a way of life. People wait every four years to line up and vote because that is where they feel they have influence,” Musawa explained.

She rejected the notion that the APC could reshuffle its ticket without consequences, warning that such assumptions reflect a misunderstanding of northern political dynamics.

“I think if we toy with changing the construct of what we have now, it is a problem. People who suggest otherwise may not fully understand how politics works in the north,” she added.

While Musawa’s comments were framed as a strategic caution rather than an endorsement of speculation, they nonetheless fueled debate about the party’s internal calculations for 2027.

Party Draws a Line

In response, the APC has drawn a firm line. The party insists that it is not engaged in any succession or ticket discussions at this time, pointing out that political activities remain restricted under existing laws and electoral regulations.

“Under our laws and electoral regulations, the ban on political activities remains in force,” Morka said, emphasizing that the party’s current focus is governance, not campaigning.

“At this time, our Party remains focused on supporting President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in delivering the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and entrenching its bold reforms that are now steadily transforming the economy, building prosperity, and uplifting the living conditions of our people,” the statement read.

Beyond addressing the media, the APC also turned inward, cautioning ministers, senior government officials, and party leaders against making remarks that could feed unnecessary speculation.

“We call on our ministers, senior government and party officials to avoid, wittingly or unwittingly, stoking needless speculations, and to focus on their primary duty of diligent service to government and our party,” the party said.

The statement urged officials to concentrate on “bolstering the success and achievements of President Tinubu, our inimitable and visionary leader.”

The Politics Beneath the Denial

Although the APC has dismissed the reports, the intensity of its response reflects how sensitive the issue is.

Running mate debates are never merely symbolic. In Nigeria’s complex political landscape, tickets are carefully constructed to balance religion, region, ethnicity, and party factions. The Tinubu–Shettima pairing in 2023 broke long-standing conventions by fielding two Muslims, sparking controversy but ultimately proving electorally viable.

Any suggestion of altering that formula inevitably touches on deeper questions about regional power, representation, and party unity.

For many in the North, Shettima represents more than an individual politician. He embodies continuity, regional inclusion, and the political calculus that delivered victory. As Musawa noted, voter behaviour in the region is shaped by identity and long-standing political traditions.

From the party’s perspective, allowing rumours to fester risks opening fault lines within the APC itself—between regions, factions, and interest groups.

By categorically denying the reports, the APC appears intent on preventing early jostling for position and maintaining a unified front around the Tinubu administration.

Governance Over Guesswork

The party’s message is clear: 2027 is not the conversation Nigeria should be having right now.

With economic reforms underway and the government facing pressure to deliver tangible improvements in living conditions, the APC wants public attention focused on governance rather than succession politics.

Speculation, the party fears, could distract officials, weaken cohesion, and provide ammunition to political opponents.

Whether the ticket remains unchanged in 2027 is a question only time will answer. Political realities evolve, alliances shift, and electoral strategies adapt. But for now, the APC is drawing a firm boundary between legitimate political discourse and what it considers destabilising rumour.

In doing so, the ruling party is attempting to project stability—both to its supporters and to a public weary of endless political drama.

For Vice President Kashim Shettima, the message from his party is unambiguous: he remains an integral part of the Tinubu administration, and any talk of replacement is, in the APC’s words, “utterly baseless.”

As Nigeria navigates a demanding period of reform and adjustment, the ruling party insists that unity, focus, and disciplined communication must take precedence over premature electoral speculation.

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