2027: Anxiety as Shettima Awaits Tinubu’s Decision on Running Mate

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appears to have secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket for the 2027 election without significant opposition, unlike the intense contest that preceded the 2023 general election.

In 2022, Tinubu faced strong competition from prominent party figures including former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi before eventually emerging as the APC candidate.

However, political observers say the situation within the ruling party has changed considerably, with Tinubu now firmly in control of the APC structure ahead of the next election cycle.

Attention has now shifted to the question of who will emerge as his running mate in 2027, amid growing speculation over whether Vice President Kashim Shettima will retain his position on the ticket.

Tinubu’s decision to pick Shettima in 2022 generated controversy in some quarters due to concerns over the Muslim-Muslim ticket and fears of religious imbalance in the country’s political leadership.

Despite the criticisms at the time, analysts believe the issue has gradually lost momentum, especially following the administration’s nearly three years in office.

Political commentators have described Shettima as one of the most loyal vice presidents in Nigeria’s recent democratic history, citing his consistent support for the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration.

Observers also point to Shettima’s political influence in Northern Nigeria, where he is considered a key figure with a strong support base.

According to analysts, Tinubu may consider retaining the vice president to avoid unnecessary political tensions within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The relationship between First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the wife of the vice president, Hajia Nana Shettima, has also been cited as another factor strengthening political harmony within the presidency.

Hajia Nana Shettima currently serves as National Vice Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), a programme founded by the First Lady focused on women and youth empowerment across the country.

While political intrigues and behind-the-scenes manoeuvring continue within the APC, many party insiders believe it would be difficult for Tinubu to replace Shettima at this stage.

However, analysts maintain that political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections could still influence the president’s final decision.

(Vanguard)

WHY OPPOSITION DISUNITY MAY RETURN TINUBU TO POWER. By: Nworisa Michael

If you’ve followed me long enough, you’ll know I have consistently spoken strongly against President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. Some people may not like hearing this, but I do not speak for entertainment, I speak from conviction and observation.

Like millions of Nigerians, I am deeply frustrated about the state of the nation. Perhaps even more because I pay close attention to governance and political developments almost daily, following them with the same intensity passionate football lovers follow their clubs.

So when the opposition coalition conversations began, I felt relief. I felt hope. For the first time in a while, it looked like Nigeria might finally witness a truly united front strong enough to challenge the current administration.

But that hope slowly faded the moment the coalition fragmented into different camps.

What many Nigerians are now watching looks dangerously similar to the same mistakes of 2023: divided opposition, scattered votes, parallel ambitions, and eventually one major beneficiary President Tinubu.

Some people believe an alliance between H.E Mr. Peter Obi and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso  can still change everything. Mathematically, it sounds attractive. But politics is not won by arithmetic alone.

Peter Obi’s rise became powerful because many Nigerians, especially in parts of the South-East and among young people across regions, saw him as a symbol against exclusion, old political dominance, and sectional politics.

He remains a strong and respected candidate.

But without a broad and truly united opposition, defeating a sitting government with all the advantages of incumbency becomes extremely difficult.

And while many supporters believe Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso can help market Obi strongly across the North, I honestly do not think that assumption reflects the political reality on ground as much as people imagine.

Personally, I do not want a candidacy built around tribal balancing or religious calculations. I want a candidacy that makes Nigerians genuinely feel Nigerian first before tribe or region.

And if the conversation is about a politician from the South-East who has genuinely crossed regional and political boundaries nationally, then there is one name many people intentionally avoid mentioning.

A politician whose political relationships cut across the North, South, East, and West. A politician who built bridges long before coalition politics became fashionable.

Ironically, even Sen. Kwankwaso himself would think twice before underestimating his reach.

He may not be making the loudest noise today. He may not dominate online conversations daily. But he sits quietly, calculating, observing, and waiting for the right political moment.

Do not be surprised if he becomes President before H.E Peter Obi.

Because unlike many politicians who depend heavily on regional emotional movements, he is naturally marketable across different parts of Nigeria on his own political strength.

That man is Senator Rochas Okorocha 

Nworisa Michael is the coordinator,  Inter-tribe Community Support Forum and writes from nworisamichael1917@gmail.com