The North Central All Progressives Congress Forum has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against dropping Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that such a move could amount to a serious political miscalculation.
The warning followed recent indications that some elements within the ruling party are pushing for Shettima’s replacement, after his image was omitted from a banner displayed during the APC North East zonal public hearing on the proposed amendment of the party’s constitution in Maiduguri.
The omission reignited debates over the future of the APC Muslim Muslim presidential ticket and renewed calls in some quarters for a Christian running mate from the North in 2027.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the North Central APC Forum rejected the idea, insisting that changing a winning ticket would weaken the party’s chances in the next election.
The forum said replacing Shettima would neither attract new votes nor strengthen Tinubu’s electoral base in the North, warning instead that it could lead to loss of core supporters and give the opposition an advantage.
It added that the North Central is not seeking the vice presidential slot, as the region is positioning itself for the presidency in 2031.
The group further warned against injecting religious sentiment into political calculations, noting that the region currently lacks a Christian candidate with sufficient national appeal and political structure to complement Tinubu.
The forum advised the President to maintain the status quo, stressing that retaining Shettima remains the most strategic option for the ruling party’s success in 2027.
