NIGERIA’s intricate political landscape remains in a perpetual state of flux, an ever-shifting interplay of personal ambitions, regional calculations, and a relentless struggle for power. As the 2027 general elections draw nearer, political discourse is increasingly dominated by an intense examination of the delicate but strategic relationship between His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and his loyal deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON.
The very notion of a possible decoupling of Senator Shettima from President Tinubu’s re-election bid has stirred unease among the country’s political class. It has triggered a rigorous reassessment of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s internal cohesion and, by extension, the overall trajectory of Nigeria’s political future.
President Tinubu’s recent effusive praise of his Vice President, while seemingly an act of routine courtesy is far more than a ceremonial exchange of pleasantries. In the high-stakes arena of Nigerian politics, every public statement, every symbolic gesture, is a deliberate strategic move.
By openly celebrating Senator Shettima’s contributions to governance and party stability, President Tinubu is not merely offering commendation. He is issuing a carefully crafted political signal, one designed to reassure his Northern political base and reaffirm his commitment to preserving a powerful alliance that underpinned his 2023 victory.
This symbolic reaffirmation, therefore, is both a message of unity and a counterweight to speculative narratives seeking to question the durability of their partnership.
Yet, as seasoned observers of Nigerian politics know, emotional gestures alone cannot secure an election victory. The prospect of President Tinubu seeking re-election in 2027 without Senator Shettima on the ticket is not merely a daunting challenge, it is, according to a significant bloc of analysts, electoral suicide.
Senator Shettima’s political reach stretches deeply into Northern Nigeria, a region whose electoral weight remains a decisive voting bloc. His grassroots influence, credibility among power brokers, and reputation as a unifier position him as a critical asset in Tinubu’s political arsenal.
Beyond numbers, Senator Shettima embodies a pragmatic, moderate, and stabilizing persona qualities urgently needed in a nation grappling with ethno-religious tensions and political fragmentation. His ability to bridge divides and command respect across various constituencies is not incidental; it is the very cornerstone of APC’s cohesion and Tinubu’s re-election blueprint.
Within the APC, the consensus appears settled: Shettima’s place on the 2027 ticket is non-negotiable, a matter effectively closed, politically and strategically.
To jettison such a figure would be tantamount to dismantling the very scaffolding on which Tinubu’s administration rests. It would alienate a critical Northern base and risk plunging the party into factional chaos.
For President Tinubu, Shettima’s continued role transcends narrow political expediency. Their partnership offers a stabilizing force for Nigeria’s fragile democracy. It also signals an enduring commitment to inclusive leadership, a vital message for a nation as diverse and complex as Nigeria.
Together, Tinubu and Shettima form a formidable team capable of projecting unity, inspiring public confidence, and mobilizing broad-based electoral support across ethnic, religious, and geographic divides.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 electoral contest, the citizenry must resist the pull of narrow, sectional politics. The country requires leadership rooted in competence, meritocracy, and inclusivity, leadership that values Nigeria’s diversity as a source of strength rather than division.
The challenge for political elites, therefore, is to demonstrate maturity, put the nation’s interest above parochial considerations, and consolidate democratic gains. The Tinubu-Shettima partnership represents not merely a ticket but a political equilibrium whose preservation may well prove decisive for Nigeria’s stability and progress.
- Dr Duhu is a former National Vice Chairman North East of the APC and can be reached via galadimadluku@gmail.com.