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 controversies arising from the omission of Shettima’s photograph on a banner at the North-East Zonal Public Hearing on the amendment of the APC constitution.
He noted that the northern region currently lacks a Christian candidate with the political influence and followership necessary to deliver substantial electoral support. “Any miscalculation in this regard could jeopardise the winning ticket for the current administration,” Mumuni warned.
Speculation has been growing about the possibility of replacing Shettima with a Christian vice-presidential candidate to address concerns about religious inclusivity. However, Mumuni described such discussions as strategically unsound in the current political landscape.
According to him, dropping Shettima could undermine the APC’s chances of retaining power, as no northern Christian candidate currently possesses sufficient grassroots support or nationwide appeal to complement President Bola Tinubu’s electoral strength.
