2027 and the APC Reality: Why Vice President Kashim Shettima Must Step Aside.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
June 23, 2025
As the All Progressives Congress (APC) navigates the turbulent waters of internal power play ahead of the 2027 presidential elections, one truth becomes increasingly difficult to ignore: His Excellency Vice President Kashim Shettima may no longer be a politically viable running mate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The storm is no longer brewing—it is here, and the signals are too loud to overlook.
The June 15 APC North-East stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe marked a pivotal moment. Mustapha Salihu, the party’s Zonal Vice Chairman, publicly endorsed President Tinubu’s re-election bid without naming Shettima as his running mate.
For a sitting Vice President, such an omission is not a minor political misstep—it is a deliberate signal. Political figures as strategic as Salihu do not make such statements carelessly. It is now clear: the omission was sanctioned at higher levels within the APC hierarchy, most likely with the knowledge, if not the blessing, of the party’s National Chairman.
The backlash from Shettima’s supporters at the event underscores how deeply this message cut. But instead of quelling concerns, their chants of “Shettima! Shettima!” only highlighted a growing rift—one that could eventually fracture party unity if not properly managed.
Borno State was once Shettima’s strongest pillar. But today, that pillar appears to be cracking from within. Governor Babagana Zulum, once considered Shettima’s protégé, has become a vocal critic of the federal government’s economic and security policies—policies championed under the Tinubu-Shettima administration. From labeling tax reforms “Lagos-centric” to condemning the federal response to insurgency in the North-East, Zulum has openly distanced himself from the government he’s supposed to support.
Senator Ali Ndume, another key northern figure from Borno and perceived ally of Shettima, has also become an irritant to the Tinubu-led APC. His repeated criticisms of party leadership culminated in the National Working Committee recommending his removal as Senate Majority Whip. These developments suggest a coordinated dissatisfaction from Borno elites—an apparent mutiny within Shettima’s own base.
This raises a painful but unavoidable question: If your own political home is no longer united behind you, can you truly claim national support?
Beyond political alliances, there is another issue haunting Vice President Shettima—his perceived distance from President Tinubu. Insiders describe a cold, transactional relationship rather than a warm, strategic partnership. While no official statement has been made about Shettima’s removal, the lack of visible closeness between the President and his Vice gives credence to speculation that a change may be looming.
Within APC’s internal circles, power brokers are already positioning themselves for a possible vice-presidential vacancy. Governors and lawmakers—some of whom are from Shettima’s own North-East region—are being touted as alternatives. The Vice President now finds himself surrounded not only by critics but by competitors disguised as allies.
Supporters of Shettima argue that dropping him might alienate Northern voters. But this view underestimates the intelligence and concerns of the average Nigerian. Nigerians want results, not symbolic loyalty. If the Vice President cannot inspire confidence, unify his home base, or effectively defend federal policies, his continued presence on the ticket may do more harm than good.
President Tinubu must also weigh the national stakes. Persisting with a running mate who invites intra-party friction, deepens regional resentment, and weakens campaign messaging would be politically reckless. The message from Borno, the reaction from the Gombe meeting, and the murmurs from National Assembly figures are not mere gossip—they are political barometers.
According to sources familiar with ongoing internal assessments within the APC, there are confidential reports being reviewed by the National Working Committee. These reports outline growing concerns about Shettima’s political liabilities, including his inability to manage critical allies and the perception of estrangement from grassroots northern sentiments. The fear within the party is clear: that continuing with Shettima could endanger Tinubu’s re-election bid, especially in the increasingly unpredictable northern voter bloc.
The reports are also said to highlight intelligence inputs suggesting that Shettima’s presence on the ticket could be used as a rallying point by opposition forces to fracture the APC’s northern base.
Vice President Kashim Shettima should reflect on the broader picture. Leadership is not only about holding office—it is about knowing when to step aside for the greater good. His continued presence on the 2027 ticket threatens to reopen fault lines that the APC cannot afford going into a critical election cycle. The party must avoid another internal crisis, especially at a time when national cohesion and regional balance are paramount.
For the APC to stand united, and for President Tinubu to have a real shot at re-election, the difficult but necessary decision must be made: Vice President Shettima should be respectfully and strategically replaced. Doing so will not only restore internal party confidence but send a clear message to Nigerians that performance, loyalty, and political harmony—not sentiment—will shape the future of leadership.
It is not a matter of personal failure, but of national necessity.
Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu can be reach 08060017934
