President Bola Tinubu has secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket for the 2027 election, triggering fresh speculation on who will be his running mate.
Unlike the 2022 APC presidential primary where Tinubu was faced with stiff internal opposition from then Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi and others, the latest process has been tagged by observers as a walk through for the President.
With the APC ticket in pocket, the question now is whether Tinubu will retain Vice-President Kashim Shettima or pick a different running mate.
Tinubu’s choice of Shettima in 2022 was controversial because both men are Muslim.
At the time, critics said the Muslim-Muslim ticket did not reflect Nigeria’s religious diversity, especially with claims of an alleged Islamisation agenda, Vanguard reported.
With the 2027 election approaching, however, the discussion about same-faith tickets seems to have died down.
But some say the influence of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, a Christian and pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has diluted such arguments.
Shettima’s loyalty mentioned
Vanguard observed that political analysts say Shettima’s loyalty may be a strong point in his favour.
They described him as one of the most loyal deputies in Nigeria’s democratic history, noting that he has consistently defended and interpreted the policies of the Tinubu administration without open confrontation or friction.
Observers say the Vice-President seems to have studied Tinubu’s political style, and has avoided taking steps that could be seen as disloyal.
Loyalty is considered paramount in politics and Shettima is thought to have earned the President’s trust.
Another factor thought to be in favour of Shettima is his political weight in the North.
But analysts say dumping him now could be politically risky for Tinubu, given Shettima’s clout and base of support.
For many, Tinubu is a master political tactician who may not want to replace a loyal and followership-in-a-key-electoral-zone running mate.
First Lady, Nana Shettima Bond.
Observers also cite the cordial relationship between the First lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima.
Mrs. Tinubu also rolled out the Renewed Hope Initiative, which is for women and girls.
The First Lady’s representative, Nana Shettima, is the national vice-chairman of the initiative and usually represents the First Lady in outreach programmes and events nationwide.
Observers say even with political intrigues and quiet manoeuvring, it would be surprising if Tinubu drops Shettima ahead of the 2027 election.
But they also observe that in politics nothing is impossible.
