Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Tinubu May Retain Shettima As APC Faces Nomination Deadline

The All Progressives Congress (APC) appears set to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election, barely 24 hours before the deadline for political parties to submit the names of their presidential and National Assembly candidates.

Although concerns have persisted over the religious implications of fielding another Muslim-Muslim ticket, sources within the Presidency and the ruling party said political calculations were increasingly favouring Shettima’s retention.

A Presidency source told The Guardian that influential political stakeholders from the North-East had intensified consultations aimed at ensuring that the Vice President remained on the APC presidential ticket.

The source said some political leaders in the region acknowledged that Tinubu had the constitutional and political discretion to choose his running mate but had begun exploring alternative options should the President decide to replace Shettima.

However, many APC chieftains were said to be optimistic that the Vice President would retain his position on the ballot.

According to the source, party leaders believe Shettima’s loyalty, calm disposition and commitment to his responsibilities have strengthened his chances of remaining Tinubu’s running mate.

“They said that within the past three years, Senator Shettima had not done anything to warrant his replacement,” the source said.

“They listed the VP’s level-headedness, focus on the job and loyalty to President Tinubu as some of the compelling reasons why the President would not change him.

“Then, looking at the political situation in the country right now, there is no person that the President could choose from the North to guarantee huge winning votes more than the Vice President.”

The source added that dropping Shettima could create political discontent in the North-East, where stakeholders were reportedly mobilising to protect the region’s position on the presidential ticket.

The source further alleged that the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, had been reaching out to influential North-East leaders to secure support for the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

According to him, Amaechi’s political links in the region dated back to the 2022 APC presidential primary, where he reportedly secured significant delegate support from the North-East.

“You know that Amaechi got maximum delegate votes from the North-East when he contested against Tinubu for the APC ticket in 2022,” the source said.

“This time around, the ADC vice-presidential candidate has been giving us reasons why we should work for Atiku. He said that President Tinubu is determined to drop Shettima and pick a weak candidate as his running mate.”

The source claimed Amaechi had also raised concerns about the international perception of the APC’s same-faith presidential ticket.

“According to Amaechi, President Tinubu is already in trouble with the United States because of the Muslim-Muslim ticket,” he said.

“One thing I can tell you is that the North-East stakeholders have resolved to stick with Shettima.”

He added that the recent television appearance of former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, formed part of efforts by regional leaders to reassure Tinubu of continued support and bloc votes from the North-East.

As of the time of filing the report, APC leaders contacted could not confirm whether reported plans to consider the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), or former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, as alternative running mates had been abandoned.

Both men had reportedly featured in discussions over a possible replacement for Shettima amid calls for the APC to balance its ticket along religious lines.

However, a former APC national officer from the North-Central said the provisions of the Electoral Act could complicate any plan to upload Shettima’s name as a placeholder and replace him later.

“Those close to President Tinubu have told him that fielding Shettima as a placeholder may be difficult to redress due to the strong provisions of the Electoral Act 2026,” the former official said.

“They suggest that the best thing to do is to drop Shettima and offer him concessions because it would be hard to convince him to resign after his name has been uploaded.”