Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Shettima poised to remain Tinubu’s running mate amid INEC deadline

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is reportedly leaning towards retaining Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election, with less than 24 hours to the deadline for political parties to submit their presidential and National Assembly candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to The Guardian, despite ongoing concerns over the religious implications of presenting another Muslim-Muslim ticket, political calculations within the Presidency and the ruling party are said to favour Shettima’s continued place on the ticket.

A Presidency source quoted in the report said influential political stakeholders from the North-East have intensified consultations aimed at ensuring the Vice President remains on the APC presidential ticket.

The source noted that while regional leaders recognise President Tinubu’s constitutional right to choose his running mate, they have also begun considering alternative strategies should Shettima be dropped.

However, party leaders were said to be optimistic that the Vice President would be retained, citing his loyalty, calm disposition and commitment to his responsibilities.

“They said that within the past three years, Senator Shettima had not done anything to warrant his replacement,” the source said.

According to the source, APC leaders believe Shettima remains the strongest political asset the President can present from the North, adding that replacing him could create political resentment in the North-East.

The source also alleged that the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rotimi Amaechi, has been reaching out to influential political figures in the North-East in an effort to secure support for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

According to the source, Amaechi has reportedly argued that President Tinubu intends to replace Shettima with a weaker candidate and has raised concerns over international reactions to the APC’s same-faith ticket.

The source further claimed that North-East stakeholders have resolved to stand firmly behind Shettima and referenced recent public comments by former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff as part of efforts to reassure President Tinubu of the region’s continued support.

Meanwhile, party officials contacted by the newspaper reportedly declined to confirm whether discussions around possible alternative running mates, including Minister of Defence Christopher Musa and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, had been abandoned.

A former APC national officer from the North-Central also reportedly warned that the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 could make it difficult to upload Shettima’s name as a placeholder with the intention of replacing him later.

According to the source, advisers close to President Tinubu believe that if the party intends to replace the Vice President, it should do so before submitting candidates’ names to INEC rather than relying on a later substitution, which could prove legally and politically difficult.

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