The presidency has said President Tinubu would announce his 2027 running mate only after he is formally nominated by the APC at its 2026 convention
Speculation about dropping Vice President Shettima was dismissed, with Onanuga insisting Tinubu and Shettima have a strong working relationship
Amid tensions within the APC, Muslim Rights Concern warned against replacing Shettima, urging the party to consult widely before making such a move …CONTINUE READING
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on Information and Strategy, explained the position in an interview published on Thursday, June 19.
Onanuga brushed aside speculation that Vice‑President Kashim Shettima has been sidelined because recent endorsements for Tinubu did not mention him.
He said the silence was routine because, in Nigeria’s presidential system, the candidate is chosen first and the running mate later.
The adviser rejected claims that Tinubu’s history of replacing deputies while governor of Lagos showed he planned to drop Shettima. He said those changes related to specific political disputes at the time and did not set a precedent, Vanguard reported.
Onanuga insisted Tinubu and Shettima enjoyed an “excellent working relationship”, calling rumours of a split “beer parlour gossip”.
He also dismissed talk that the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, had undue influence.
Asked whether Tinubu might again choose a Muslim running mate in 2027, Onanuga said earlier fears of Islamisation had faded and many potential names being discussed were Muslims.
He defended recent pro‑Tinubu endorsements despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not yet declaring the campaign open, saying the APC was responding to opposition criticism and “showing we’re not asleep”.
Speculation over Shettima’s future intensified after a tense APC North‑East stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe, where some party figures initially endorsed Tinubu but not his deputy, Daily Trust reported.
Governor Babagana Zulum later urged the party to retain the Tinubu‑Shettima ticket.
Separately, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) advised the APC not to replace the vice‑president, saying any move to do so would be “ill‑advised” and should be preceded by wide consultation.
