There’s been a lot of chatter lately about a supposed rift between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
But the All Progressives Congress (APC) isn’t having any of it. The party has swiftly shut down these rumors, calling them completely unfounded.
According to Hafsat Bello’s article published on April 4, 2025, despite the fact that Tinubu has not officially announced his intention to run for a second term, party members and key figures have already started gathering support for his possible re-election.
Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, the APC’s National Director of Publicity, addressed the rumors directly. He described the claims as “beer-parlour discussions,” emphasizing that they had no real basis.
Ibrahim went on to explain that if a change in vice president were ever considered, it would not be a decision made by just one person. “Such a decision would require extensive consultations with critical stakeholders,” he noted.
At the same time, political figures from Nigeria’s North Central region are pushing hard for a seat at the table in the upcoming 2027 elections.
Leaders from Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kogi, and Kwara states have made it clear they want either the presidency or vice-presidency. They believe it’s time their region gets its due, as they’ve never held either of these top positions since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
Prof. Nghargbu K’tso, who led the group, stated, “This is about fairness. We want to be recognized not as mere political adjuncts but as full stakeholders in the ‘One North’ project.”
The North Central region has long argued that it’s been overlooked in the political sphere. They point out that while the South East produced a vice president in the past, their region has yet to see the same.
However, the APC isn’t keen on granting these demands. Ibrahim shot down the North Central’s request, saying it was “unrealistic and premature.”
He added that their relatively lower electoral contribution compared to other zones like the North West makes these calls feel out of place at this time.
“The North Central should not see the presidency or vice presidency as a right,” Ibrahim said, stressing that discussions about zoning can only take place after President Tinubu finishes his first term.
Article updated 3 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
