The North‑Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has urged the Federal Government and APC leadership to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 general election, cautioning that any move to drop him could pose political risks for the ruling party.
The position was outlined in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, January 22, 2026, by the Forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga.
The call follows media speculation and party deliberations suggesting a possible reshuffle of the APC’s presidential ticket. Reports of Shettima’s omission from a banner at the North‑East Zonal Public Hearing on the party constitution had fueled debate about the stability and future direction of the ruling party’s electoral strategy.
The APC’s current ticket of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima marked a Muslim‑Muslim pairing that was a subject of significant discussion during the 2023 elections.
As preparations intensify for 2027, some stakeholders within and outside the party have advocated for a change in the running mate slot to promote religious inclusivity and broader national appeal.
However, the North‑Central APC Forum has firmly rejected such calls, describing them as potentially harmful to the party’s electoral prospects.
In its statement, the forum described any attempt to “drop Vice President Kashim Shettima … as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the next election” as a “grave political miscalculation” that could undermine the APC’s position and strengthen the opposition. It emphasised that the party should not alter a ticket that delivered victory in 2023.
The forum argued that the North‑Central region is not seeking the vice‑presidential slot for itself but is instead focused on contesting the presidency after Tinubu’s tenure.
It also dismissed suggestions that changing the ticket would secure additional support from minority voters, noting that many minorities in the North had already supported the opposition in 2023 regardless of the running mate’s identity.
Alhaji Zazzaga highlighted that abandoning the current ticket could weaken the APC’s electoral strategy and potentially bolster the opposition’s influence, particularly if the coalition backed by parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) fields high‑profile candidates like Peter Obi.
The warning from the North‑Central APC Forum signals ongoing internal debate within the ruling party over candidate selection ahead of the 2027 elections.
The forum’s stance reflects concerns about religious and regional balancing in political tickets, voter mobilisation, and the cohesion of the APC as it seeks to retain power.
By emphasising electoral arithmetic over symbolic considerations, the forum underscores the strategic calculations that could shape the party’s campaign.
As speculation about the APC’s vice‑presidential candidate continues, the party’s leadership will need to weigh internal counsel, voter sentiments and strategic imperatives in finalising its 2027 ticket.
The North‑Central APC Forum’s statement reinforces calls for unity and continuity as the ruling party positions itself for the upcoming general election.
