As Nigeria’s political atmosphere begins to heat ahead of the 2027 general elections, tensions have surfaced within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), following a controversial omission that has stirred confusion and outrage.
The latest drama unfolded at the APC stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe State last week, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was publicly endorsed for a second term, without any mention of Vice President Kashim Shettima. What began as a routine party meeting reportedly spiralled into chaos, with heated arguments and even physical altercations erupting among delegates.
Supporters of the vice president were visibly upset by the snub, interpreting the omission as a political slight and fuelling speculation that Shettima may be dropped as Tinubu’s running mate in 2027.
In the aftermath of the meeting, party leaders and stakeholders have been divided in their responses. While some have brushed off the incident as a minor oversight, others have defended Shettima’s supporters, insisting that their concerns are valid.
To clarify the situation, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, addressed the growing speculation in an interview with Daily Trust. According to Onanuga, there is no cause for alarm as the selection of a running mate will come only after the party’s national convention, in line with established procedure.
“That’s what happened under Buhari; he was nominated first and later picked his running mate. You don’t do both at once. Once INEC releases the timetable, the party convention will hold, and if the president is nominated again, he will choose his running mate.”
He dismissed rumours of a rift between Tinubu and Shettima as baseless, calling them “beer parlour gossip.”
“From everything we know, the President and Vice President enjoy an excellent working relationship. Claims of a falling-out or a potential replacement are nothing but unfounded speculation,” he said. “Some even say Seyi Tinubu is the vice president—utter nonsense.”
Onanuga urged Nigerians to ignore the distractions and focus on the government’s ongoing work, emphasising that any decisions regarding the 2027 election will be made through proper party channels at the appropriate time.
