No plan to replace Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate in 2027- APC

…as Northern youths raise ₦200m to buy Tinubu’s re-election form

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports suggesting that Vice President Kashim Shettima could be replaced as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing such claims as “speculative, untrue and utterly baseless.”

In a statement on Monday signed by Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, the ruling party said it had observed “growing media frenzy” over the possibility of dropping Shettima from the presidential ticket, noting that recent reports had gone as far as naming individuals purportedly being considered as replacements.

“Our attention has been drawn to growing media frenzy about the possible replacement of Vice President Kashim Shettima as the running mate to President Bola Tinubu under the platform of our great Party ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

“While these stories have been mostly subtle, they recently assumed a new dimension when names of specific individuals were touted as possible replacements for Vice President Shettima,” he said.

The APC said it was issuing the clarification to put an end to what it described as “needless speculations,” stressing that there was no plan to alter the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.

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Meanwhile, the Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum (NNYLF) has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office, announcing a ₦200 million fund set aside to purchase his nomination form when the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) opens the process ahead of the next general election.

The endorsement was unveiled on Monday at a high-level youth leadership and stakeholders’ engagement in Maitama, Abuja, which drew youth leaders, professionals, grassroots mobilisers, and political stakeholders from across the 19 Northern states.

At the event, Murtala Muhammad Garba, popularly known as Gamji, the National Leader of the NNYL, presented a dummy cheque of ₦200 million to Umar Yakassai, the Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group.

Speaking at the gathering, Garba said the decision reflected a collective resolve by Northern youth leaders both within Nigeria and in the diaspora to back President Tinubu based on what he described as performance, national unity and political equity.

“With the support of our Board of Trustees, our grand patrons, many of whom are here and others represented and also with the support of the Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group, which is also from the North, we have made this decision.

“We, the Northern youth leaders, are professional bodies among us, both at home and in the diaspora, and we have decided to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with ₦200 million, under the custody of our BoTs and other leaders”, he noted.

Garba explained that the fund would be deployed once the APC begins the sale of nomination forms.

“When they decide to sell the form, we are coming out to purchase the form for Mr President for his second term because we believe in the unity of Nigeria.

“We believe in the agreement between late President Muhammadu Buhari and Baba Ahmed Tinubu, that Southern Nigeria should complete its eight years, after which Northern Nigeria will take its turn”, he added.

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