President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been strongly cautioned against any move to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a warning that such a move could spell doom for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The warning was issued by the North-East chapter of the APC Youth Parliament during a press conference held on Friday in Bauchi. The group, led by its chairman Kabiru Kobi, described ongoing speculation about Shettima’s possible substitution as “a dangerous rumour capable of destabilising the party.”
Kobi stated that the APC Youth Parliament stands firmly behind the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, describing both leaders as capable and experienced men who have shown resilience in navigating the country through turbulent times.
“We want to state it unequivocally clear that any attempt to reconfigure the joint ticket of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima in 2027 will only bring resentment that could linger beyond the elections, with negative reverberations capable of affecting the party’s success,” Kobi said.
He warned against repeating the mistakes of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, stressing that internal strife had played a critical role in PDP’s fall from power and that the APC must avoid a similar fate.
According to Kobi, the plot to replace Shettima was not just a slight against the Vice President, but a broader political attack targeting President Tinubu himself.
“At this juncture, we wish to inform His Excellency, our popular and charismatic leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the calculated attacks are not truly aimed at the Vice President but at you,” Kobi said. “What these assailants are trying to achieve is to replace Kashim Shettima with someone of fragile political reputation.”
He added that the alleged conspirators believe Shettima would meekly step aside without protest, leaving President Tinubu exposed to a potential backlash from disappointed Nigerians.
“They know fully well that the Vice President would pacify his supporters to leave everything to God, and that would leave you to face the wrath of the Nigerian populace. This is because, in His just nature, God dislikes injustice,” he added.
The group further pledged to continue mobilising support for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket while urging all APC members to prioritize unity and avoid internal divisions ahead of the 2027 polls.
Kobi also commended Tinubu’s bold leadership and economic reforms, urging Nigerians to remain patient and supportive of the administration’s tough decisions, which he said are necessary for national progress.
