The National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the All Progressives Congress, Mustapha Salihu, has declared that the decision on whether Vice President Kashim Shettima will return as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s running mate in 2027 rests solely with the President.
Salihu made this assertion on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, amid growing concerns over the vice president’s political future following a recent endorsement of Tinubu by APC stakeholders in the North-East.
The endorsement, which took place during a stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe on Sunday, stirred controversy as Shettima’s name was conspicuously omitted from the communique—raising speculations about his status in the lead-up to the 2027 general election.
Reacting to the development, Salihu insisted that the endorsement of President Tinubu was done unconditionally and without any demands or expectations regarding the vice presidency.
He said, “We cannot, as North-East APC stakeholders, because our son is the Vice President, endorse Asiwaju (Tinubu) with conditions. We are endorsing Asiwaju unconditionally. Constitutionally, we only have one ticket; there is no separate ticket for the Vice President.
“If we begin to insist that Shettima must be on the ticket, we are putting the cart before the horse. The decision of who becomes the running mate lies squarely with President Tinubu.”
Salihu also dismissed insinuations that the omission of Shettima’s name was a slight or indication of internal wrangling, stating that the North-East remains proud of the Vice President and continues to support him.
“We are proud that Kashim is our son, we respect him, and we stand by him,” he said. “But this is not about sentiment. It is the prerogative of Asiwaju to determine whether Shettima will return as running mate or not.”
He also condemned what he described as attempts by some political actors to manipulate the endorsement process, accusing them of deploying outdated and violent tactics reminiscent of the 1979 political era.
“Politics has moved beyond barbarism and decadence,” Salihu said. “Bringing thugs into political summits to intimidate people does not reflect popularity. It is a regression we must all reject.”
The controversy marks an early flashpoint in the APC’s internal positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections, as conversations around zoning, ticket balancing, and party unity begin to take shape.
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