Political Intrigues in the Villa: Is Vice President Shettima the Next Target?
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu.
June 28, 2025
As the dust settles on the sudden resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), political observers across Nigeria are beginning to peel back the layers of what appears to be a grand political chess game. A game, many believe, is less about reform and more about repositioning — not for national interest, but for power consolidation.
The appointment of Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori as the acting National Chairman is being marketed as a routine restructuring. However, to those who have followed the intricate workings of Nigeria’s political engine, it signals a deeper, more troubling strategy — one aimed squarely at the seat of the Vice President, His Excellency Kashim Shettima.
There is growing unease within the APC and across Northern Nigeria. The whispers are getting louder: this is not just about Ganduje stepping down — this is about weakening the foundation that brought the current administration into power. The Vice President, known for his loyalty and strategic alliance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is allegedly being lined up for replacement. And not just by anyone — but by Engr. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a longtime political rival and leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Is it not ironic that a man who once criticized President Tinubu’s leadership is now being quietly considered for the second-highest office in the land? Is the APC, in its desperation for regional appeasement, now willing to discard its most loyal lieutenant.
Buba Galadima warned us. He said, “There is a plan to sacrifice both Ganduje and Shettima.” Many dismissed it as speculation. But now, with Ganduje out and whispers of Kwankwaso’s rising proximity to the presidency, the writing is on the wall.
Let’s not be deceived: the plan is clear — offer the Northeast the APC Chairmanship as a consolation, while real power is shifted to the Northwest by handing over the Vice Presidency. This is not reform. This is betrayal.
Kashim Shettima is more than a political placeholder. He is a man who stood firm when others hesitated. When the North was uncertain, when alliances were shifting like sand, Shettima stood by Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Loyalty in politics is rare. Loyalty in Nigerian politics is even rarer. Yet here we are — ready to throw out the North East’s finest political asset because of a backdoor deal?
Offering the APC National Chairmanship as a replacement is not just insulting — it is demeaning. The Vice Presidency cannot and should not be equated with a party role. The Northeast deserves real representation, not symbolic gestures.
Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has been a force in Northern politics. His political network and strategic mind are unmatched. Yet, he too has been sidelined in what appears to be a cleansing exercise. Sources close to Ganduje suggest growing disenchantment among his loyalists. Some are already in talks with coalition parties, possibly preparing for a mass defection.
If the APC thinks it can retain the North while sacrificing its two most visible Northern leaders — Ganduje and Shettima — then it is politically blind.
There’s no hiding it: Kwankwaso has presidential ambitions. His maneuvers within and outside the NNPP speak volumes. And while political alliances are not inherently wrong, doing so at the expense of loyal party men is dangerous and demoralizing.
What message does it send to APC members and supporters who have stood by the party through thick and thin? That anyone can walk in — even a former critic — and be handed the reins of power, as long as they are politically convenient?
If APC continues on this path, 2027 may not be a year of re-election but one of political reckoning. Replacing Shettima, alienating the Northeast, and disregarding Ganduje’s base in Kano could lead to fragmentation of the party. And with a resurgent opposition waiting in the wings, the consequences could be severe.
The North is not a pawn on the political chessboard. You do not promise them power and then substitute it with party scraps.
The presidency must rethink. Unity is not achieved through betrayal. Progress is not built on the ashes of loyalty. President Tinubu must understand that removing Kashim Shettima would not only destabilize the delicate balance that brought APC to power but also ignite deep resentment that could unravel the party’s hold on the North.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
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