2027: Dropping Shettima risky for APC – Minister

By Saawua Terzungwe & Baba Martins   The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) risks defeat in the 2027 presidential election if it drops Vice President Kashim Shettima from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election ticket. Musawa made the remarks during an episode of Mic […]

By Saawua Terzungwe & Baba Martins

 

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) risks defeat in the 2027 presidential election if it drops Vice President Kashim Shettima from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election ticket.

Musawa made the remarks during an episode of Mic On Show with journalist Seun Okinbaloye, amid growing speculation that the ruling party may consider altering the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted in the 2023 presidential election.

According to the minister, removing Shettima or replacing him with a non-Northern Muslim running mate would pose a serious political challenge for the APC, particularly in the core northern states.

“If there is no Hausa, Fulani or Kanuri Muslim on that ticket, it creates a hurdle. That is the reality of the way people think,” Musawa said.

She stressed that politics in Northern Nigeria is deeply rooted and highly sophisticated, warning that decisions taken without proper understanding of the region could backfire.

“The core North states like Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto, understands politics at a very deep level. Politics there is a way of life. People wait every four years to line up and vote because that is where they feel they have influence,” she said.

Musawa dismissed claims that the APC could easily reshuffle its presidential ticket without consequences, describing such assumptions as politically naive.

“I think if we toy with changing the construct of what we have now, it is a problem. People who suggest otherwise may not fully understand how politics works in the North,” she said.

Addressing concerns about growing opposition alliances ahead of 2027, Musawa said she does not see the current configuration of opposition forces unseating President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.

“We are not taking anybody lightly. But as the opposition is emerging now, I do not see how they can unseat President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima,” she said.

Similarly, a chieftain of the APC, Professor Haruna Yerima, has warned the ruling party against tempering with the Tinubu/Shettima presidential ticket for the 2027 general election.

In a statement in Abuja on Sunday, the university don said those canvassing for a change of the present status quo are the same elements who fought tooth and nail against the Tinubu/Shettima ticket in 2023.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that tempering with the Tinubu/Shettima presidential ticket would not augur well for the APC in 2027 general elections,” the former House of Representatives member.

“It is appalling that those who never believed the Tinubu/Shettima ticket would deliver victory in 2023 are now working round the clock to change it. They should be stopped now. Else, the ruling party will suffer its greatest defeat in 2027,” he said.

Professor Yerima said the advocates of tinkering with the Tinubu/Shetima ticket, by imposing a Christian from the North-Central or North-West zones are not just short-sighted, but politically naive.

He said the North-Central zone is fully compensated and taken care of with several Grade ‘A’ federal appointments.

“The North-Central and the North-West zones that  are canvassing for the 2027 Vice Presidential ticket are fully rewarded with prominent appointments that include that of the  Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Minister of Defence, the National Chairman of APC, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL), the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), among others,” he said.

 

APC reacts

But reacting to the development, the APC National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed concerns that religious considerations should dominate political calculations.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Daily Trust, Ibrahim said politicians are elected primarily on the basis of competence, credibility and their capacity to deliver on campaign promises, not on religious identity.

“Except where it becomes extreme, issues of faith are often overlooked as long as there is merit in the combination. Politicians are not elected because of their religion; they are elected because of their promises and their ability to fulfil those promises,” he said.

He added that electoral success is also driven by the strength and credibility of the political party, as well as the confidence voters have in its candidates.

According to him, the increasing emphasis on religion in political discourse is a recent phenomenon fueled by the interests of certain groups, rather than a reflection of the true priorities of the electorate.

“Religion is being pushed to the forefront now largely because of the agenda of some people. But as long as the candidates presented by a party are credible, people of integrity and individuals that can be trusted, I do not believe religion should be as fundamental as it is being portrayed,” Ibrahim stated.