2027: Tinubu Will Pick Running Mate After Party Convention – Presidency
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| President Bola Ahmed Tinubu |
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will announce his running mate for the 2027 presidential election only after the All Progressives Congress (APC) holds its national convention, the Presidency has confirmed.
This was disclosed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust on Thursday.
Responding to mounting speculation following Vice President Kashim Shettima’s conspicuous absence from recent waves of endorsements for President Tinubu, Onanuga dismissed suggestions that the silence signified a deliberate sidelining of the VP.
“When I saw the reports, I dismissed them as a non-issue,” Onanuga said. “In a presidential system, the candidate is nominated first, then selects a running mate. That’s how it was under Buhari—and that’s how it will be again. Once INEC releases the timetable and the party convention is held, the president will make his decision.”
No 'Pattern' of Dropping Deputies
Onanuga rejected comparisons with Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State governor—during which he changed deputies twice—arguing those instances were based on unique political circumstances, not a pattern of disloyalty or abandonment.
> “People forget the details. Tinubu’s first deputy, Kofo Bucknor-Akerele, left due to irreconcilable differences. Femi Pedro replaced her, and he too left—because he wanted to run for governor. These were situational decisions, not a habitual strategy.”
He dismissed the idea that history was repeating itself with Shettima.
“There is no rift between the president and the vice president. From what I know, they have a cordial and productive working relationship. All these speculations are nothing more than beer parlour gossip.”
He also debunked outlandish rumours that Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, was being positioned as vice president.
“Complete nonsense. People say the most ridiculous things in this country,” he added.
Muslim-Muslim Ticket No Longer Controversial
Onanuga played down concerns over a possible repeat of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, noting that earlier fears of Islamisation have proven unfounded.
“Christians are living their lives. The president even attended the Pope’s inauguration. Many of the potential running mates being discussed are Muslims—but the religious debate is no longer relevant,” he said.
On Premature Endorsements
Asked about ongoing endorsements despite INEC’s campaign calendar not yet being released, Onanuga said the flurry of support was a strategic counter to opposition attacks.
“The endorsements are reactive. The opposition started launching salvos. The APC couldn’t just sit back. These gestures are affirmations of support, not official campaign activities.”
North East APC Rift Deepens Over Shettima’s Fate
Tensions escalated at the APC North East stakeholders’ summit held last weekend in Gombe, as Vice President Shettima’s name was initially excluded from a formal endorsement of President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Although Shettima was eventually endorsed—thanks to an intervention by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum—the discord highlighted internal divisions.
Zulum strongly backed Shettima, calling on the president to retain his current vice president:
“It’s a rare opportunity to have the vice president from our region. The synergy between Tinubu and Shettima is strong and effective. We urge the president to retain him.”
Prior endorsements from the North West and North Central APC stakeholders had notably omitted Shettima, fuelling speculation of a potential shakeup in the presidential ticket.
Political observers have floated several theories: from appointing a northern Christian running mate to appease 2023 critics, to using the VP slot as bait to lure Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso into the APC. Others claim two sitting governors from the North West are under consideration, or that the position could remain in the North East—but with a different nominee.
Salihu Mustapha: ‘I Could Have Been Lynched’ Over Shettima Snub
Salihu Mustapha, APC’s National Vice Chairman (North East), recounted a near-violent fallout from his refusal to endorse Shettima at the Gombe summit.
In an interview with Trust TV, Mustapha claimed he had to call in security and physically defend himself to escape the venue after a group allegedly orchestrated chaos in retaliation for his stance.
“If not for the few boys shielding me—and my own strength—I could have been lynched,” he said.
Mustapha maintained that his position was grounded in party principles, arguing that selecting a running mate lies strictly within the presidential candidate’s prerogative and follows after the convention.
“There is no constitutional or party requirement to nominate a running mate during a candidate endorsement. What we endorsed was Tinubu’s candidacy. Any attempt to force Shettima’s inclusion at this stage amounts to political blackmail.”
He also pushed back against reports that the North East was making Shettima’s retention a condition for Tinubu’s endorsement.
“That’s simply not true. While some voices—like Governor Zulum—may have insisted on Shettima, the broader consensus from stakeholders was to endorse the president unconditionally.”
Mustapha warned that conflicts like this often stem from intermediaries seeking to stoke division:
“There are always middlemen profiting from conflict—people who thrive on tension between principals. It’s a recurring feature of our politics.”
MURIC Warns Against Dropping Shettima
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has weighed in, urging President Tinubu and the APC not to replace Shettima in 2027.
In a statement signed by Executive Director Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC said:
“Dropping Vice President Shettima would be politically unwise. We urge the president and the party to consult widely and tread carefully before making such a decision.”
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