Full List: Checkout Northern Politicians Allegedly Planning To Replace Shettima

Following ongoing political speculations over the future of Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections, Shettima’s political future may be hanging in the balance as signs from within the All Progressives Congress point to his exclusion from the 2027 presidential ticket.

Also, credible sources in the Presidency and the APC said that there are ongoing political permutations that could compel President Bola Tinubu to drop him for another running mate.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu is considering replacing him with another northern politician.

This comes as four northern governors, two each from the North-East and North-West, and two principal officers in the 10th National Assembly are reported to be eyeing the VP’s seat.

Those speculated to be in the running include:

• Abdulaziz Yari, former Governor of Zamfara State;
  Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser;
• Mohammed Bago, Niger State Governor;
• Uba Sani, Kaduna State Governor;
• Inuwa Yahaya, Gombe State Governor, and
• Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Each of the names was floated for strategic or religious reasons. Yari, according to sources who spoke with Vanguard, is being considered due to his close political relationship with Tinubu, while NSA Ribadu is reportedly seen as a long-term prospect for the 2031 presidency.

Dogara’s name is allegedly being pushed to balance the religious dynamics on the ticket by replacing the Muslim-Muslim pairing with a Christian-Muslim one, to court broader national appeal.

As for the three governors, Bago, Sani, and Yahaya, party loyalists reportedly cited their “brilliant performances” in office and rising political profiles as the basis for their inclusion.

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, who spoke with Vanguard on the speculation, stated categorically that no rift exists between the President and his deputy.

He added that any discussion about a running mate for 2027 is premature, noting that such decisions are only made after party primaries.

Meanwhile, those close to the administration argue that Shettima’s political base in the North, especially in Borno State, remains a key strategic asset for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The source said, “President Tinubu will not risk dropping Shettima in 2027. The vice president is an asset to him.

First and foremost, he has a formidable structure. Remember, he was the first to support President Tinubu before the All Progressives Congress.

“There was a conspiracy among some party members to stop Tinubu from contesting the party primaries, but Shettima stood solidly with him and openly supported him.

“You can also remember the time he described the former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as an ice cream seller, and he was even the Director General of Tinubu’s campaign and formed the nucleus for his election.

Since he emerged as the Vice President, he has been loyal to his boss. Remember, loyalty is one of the cardinal considerations in politics.

“Again, competence is another consideration. He has not failed in any assignment given to him by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. President Tinubu is one of the smartest politicians around, and he knows what he wants.”

The source further described the Vice President as a detribalized Nigerian who rose to the occasion when some youths in the North gave a quit notice to the people of the South East extraction to leave the North.

According to the source, immediately the ultimatum was issued to the Igbos, he rallied the Southeast leaders to ensure the issues were sorted out amicably.

The source even claimed that some individuals who lacked a political structure and could not win an election in their wards were behind the scheme to drop Shettima due to their selfish interests.