A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abayomi Mumuni, has cautioned against any attempt to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima on religious grounds ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mumuni made the remarks on Wednesday in response to the controversy surrounding the omission of Vice President Shettima’s photograph from a banner at the North-East Zonal Public Hearing on the amendment of the APC constitution.
He noted that the North currently lacks a Christian candidate with the political influence and followership necessary to deliver significant electoral support.
“The idea of dropping Shettima could undermine the APC’s chances of retaining power,” Mumuni said.
Speculation has been rife about a possible plan to remove Shettima from the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Mumuni added that discussions about replacing him with a Christian vice-presidential candidate, reportedly aimed at addressing concerns about religious inclusivity, are not strategically wise in the current political climate.
“The northern region currently lacks a Christian candidate with sufficient grassroots support and nationwide appeal to complement President Bola Tinubu’s electoral strength.
Any miscalculation in this regard could jeopardise the winning ticket for the current administration,” he warned.