According to Punch, amid growing turmoil within the All Progressives Congress, the party leadership has moved swiftly to quash intensifying speculation that President Bola Tinubu may be considering a new running mate for the 2027 elections. The denial follows a dramatic outburst at the APC North-East stakeholders meeting in Gombe, which descended into chaos after Vice President Kashim Shettima was conspicuously omitted from key endorsements.
The party’s National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, dismissed the swirling rumours as baseless, calling them nothing more than political mischief. He described Shettima as a central pillar of the administration and emphasized the strength of the working relationship between Tinubu and his deputy. According to Arodiogbu, “These rumours are likely just political noise meant to create division.”
He revealed that even Comrade Mustapha Salihu — whose omission of Shettima’s name during the meeting sparked outrage — denied any intent to sideline the Vice President. Salihu reportedly insisted that the meeting’s agenda was solely to endorse President Tinubu, not to address ticket configurations.
He further said; “But what we know till this moment is that the President has not given any sign, even by words or by action, that he is not comfortable in continuing with the Vice President.”
Reinforcing this stance, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, offered a curt dismissal of the matter, stating simply, “I am not aware, Sir.”
Nonetheless, tensions remain high. The timing of the rumours, which surfaced after President Tinubu received an emphatic endorsement from 22 APC governors, the leadership of the National Assembly, and top party figures as the sole 2027 presidential candidate, has only fueled suspicions. While the endorsements were intended to project unity and confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, they inadvertently amplified concerns in the North-East about Shettima’s future.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State initiated the endorsement motion, which was seconded by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani. It was later backed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje also reiterated the party’s commitment to Tinubu’s candidacy. However, none of these statements explicitly confirmed Shettima as part of the future ticket, a silence that has proven costly.
As chants of “No Shettima, no APC” echo across the North-East, the party now faces a delicate balancing act — reaffirming loyalty to the President while acknowledging the Vice President’s regional and strategic importance.
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