I fear APC’s internal crisis more than Atiku – Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said internal divisions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) worry him more than the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election, urging party members to unite behind President Bola Tinubu and the party’s governors.

Shettima spoke on Saturday in Abuja while unveiling the campaign headquarters of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a northern coalition supporting the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, and inaugurating its campaign structure.

“Honestly, I am not afraid of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am not afraid of a diminished Peter Obi. But I am more afraid of internal contradictions within our household. If we unite as a people, as a family, we will conquer,” he said.

The Vice President warned northern political leaders against focusing on the presidential election at the expense of APC candidates contesting governorship seats and other positions.

“There is no point in championing the cause of the presidential election and then undermining the governor in the gubernatorial election. Honestly, it will not go down well with the system,” he said.

He urged party members to support APC governors, National Assembly members and Tinubu as the party prepares for the next round of elections.

“Let’s rally round our governors. Let’s rally round our members of the National Assembly. Let’s rally round President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and see to the victory in the next round of elections,” he added.

Shettima claims North has made its choice

Shettima expressed confidence in Tinubu’s support across northern Nigeria, claiming that the region had already made its political choice ahead of the 2027 election.

“By now, I believe the North has spoken. We have spoken with a resounding voice and unmistakable conviction. From Adamawa to Zamfara, from Borno to Niger, we have spoken,” he said.

He also urged APC members to intensify their mobilisation efforts, saying the election was approaching.

“In less than 100 days, Nigerians will return to the polls. Democracy requires us to seek their confidence again, with humility about the work outstanding and conviction about the cause we have chosen,” Shettima said.

Addressing party members on the need to challenge opposition candidates, he urged them to campaign against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar respectfully.

“Go and perform. Go and defeat Baba Atiku. Defeat him respectfully,” he said.

Shettima also highlighted the APC’s organisational structure, citing figures he said demonstrated the party’s capacity to mobilise voters nationwide.

“There are 176,845 polling units across the country. The APC, from ward to local government levels, has 361,045 officials. What it means is that we can match every polling unit two to two,” he said.

He added that political appointees should demonstrate their influence at the grassroots, stressing that political contests were often determined by local mobilisation.

“Politics is still local,” he said, disclosing that he had asked the Borno State governor to compile a list of political appointees from the state, including those serving at the local government level.

Shettima said the appointees would be expected to account for their performance in their respective polling units, wards and local government areas.

Vice President defends Tinubu’s economic record

The Vice President also cited the APC’s political position in northern Nigeria, claiming that 18 of the region’s 19 states were governed by the party.

He further said 15 of the 18 members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) from Kano State had defected to the APC, adding that the state governor was aligned with the ruling party.

Shettima, however, acknowledged the economic difficulties facing many Nigerians, saying the government must remain conscious of the hardship experienced by households.

“Every household struggling to make ends meet reminds us how much remains to be done,” he said.

“We lose our hearing when applause becomes our only source of information.”

Defending the administration’s economic policies, the Vice President argued that Tinubu inherited a fragile economy when he assumed office in May 2023.

“When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed the mantle of leadership in this country, what we had in our foreign reserves was a country with 3.9 billion dollars, barely enough to import oil for one month. And our Ways and Means expenditure was over N27 trillion,” he said.

“Nigeria was on the road to Caracas. The economy was teetering on the brink of collapse. He literally saved the nation,” he added.

Shettima also claimed that Nigeria’s foreign reserves had risen to approximately $58.9bn, describing the figure as a significant improvement.

He assured northern Nigerians that they had nothing to fear from another Tinubu presidency, insisting that the President had the region’s interests at heart.

“For the North, we have absolutely nothing to fear in a Tinubu second term. He has the North at heart,” he said.

APC chairman rallies support for Tinubu’s re-election

The APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, also called for Tinubu’s re-election, saying the North would again play a significant role in supporting the President.

“Today is a time for us to renew a mandate that was largely supported by the North, and the North again will largely support the return of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term,” Yilwatda said.

He cited federal infrastructure projects in the region, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Kano-Maiduguri roads, as evidence of the administration’s investments.

“Those two roads alone are over 900 kilometres, more than the 700 kilometres of Lagos Road,” he said.

The Director-General of A4A and former Jigawa State governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, disclosed that the coalition’s campaign headquarters was located at No. 4 Port Harcourt Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.

Badaru described the facility as the biggest campaign office in the country and said it represented the coalition’s commitment to mobilising northern support for Tinubu.

“Let it be understood that this building is more than just a campaign office. It is a message. It says that Arewa is serious,” he said.

He added that the coalition intended to run a peaceful, disciplined and issue-based campaign, taking its message to markets, farms, campuses, mosques and churches.

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