President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will choose his running mate for the 2027 presidential election after the All Progressives Congress (APC) holds its convention in 2026, the Presidency has said.
Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, said this in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust on Thursday. He explained that it is normal in Nigeria’s presidential system for the candidate to first emerge before selecting a running mate.
“In a presidential system, the candidate emerges first and then selects a running mate. That’s what happened under Buhari. You don’t do both at once,” Onanuga said.
He added that once the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releases the timetable, the APC will hold its convention, and if President Tinubu is nominated again, he will pick a running mate at that time.
The comment comes amid rising speculation that Vice President Kashim Shettima might be dropped ahead of the 2027 election. This followed several public endorsements of Tinubu without mentioning Shettima.
Onanuga dismissed the rumours, saying, “People even say ridiculous things like Seyi Tinubu is the vice president—absolute nonsense. As far as I know, Tinubu and Shettima work very well together.”
He also said Tinubu’s past as governor of Lagos—where he changed his deputies twice—does not mean he will drop Shettima.
“There were political circumstances each time. It’s wrong to say he has a pattern of discarding deputies,” he added.
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Tensions at APC North East Summit
Concerns about Shettima’s future peaked at the APC North East Stakeholders’ Summit in Gombe, where Vice President Shettima was initially left out of a group endorsement for President Tinubu.
A rowdy scene erupted after APC’s National Vice Chairman (North East), Salihu Mustapha, refused to endorse Shettima. Mustapha later told Trust TV he “could have been lynched” but had to fight his way out of the hall.
“I had to call my security detail. If not for a few boys shielding me—and my own strength—I could have been lynched,” he said.
Mustapha insisted he did not act out of hatred but was following party rules.
“There is no provision for naming a running mate during primaries. That is the job of the presidential candidate, not party members,” Mustapha said.
He also warned against blackmailing the president. “Trying to force his hand or chanting ‘No Shettima, no Asiwaju’ in the hall—that’s blackmail. And that’s not the position of the North East,” he said.
Zulum Endorses Tinubu-Shettima Ticket
Despite the drama, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum publicly backed the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, saying Shettima has played a key role in the current administration.
“We urge President Tinubu to retain Kashim Shettima as his running mate. His leadership and experience have been pivotal,” Zulum said.
MURIC Warns Against Dropping Shettima
Meanwhile, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) advised against removing Shettima from the 2027 ticket. Its executive director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said such a move would be “ill-advised.”
“The president and the ruling party should consult widely before making such a decision,” MURIC said in a statement.
Endorsements Begin Despite INEC Schedule
When asked about ongoing endorsements despite INEC not officially declaring the campaign period open, Onanuga said the endorsements are a response to early attacks from the opposition.
“If the so-called coalition had not started attacking the Tinubu administration, the APC would have waited until early next year. But we had to show we’re ready to respond,” he said.
As talks continue ahead of 2027, it is now clear that President Tinubu will not make any official announcement on his running mate until the APC convention in 2026.