APC

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Bandits in Zamfara State have reportedly demanded N30 million for the release of six Islamic clerics who were abducted after attending a special prayer session organised for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress.

The reported abduction was disclosed by conflict reporter D English Alhaji in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

According to the report, the clerics had attended the prayer session organised by the Director-General of the APC campaign and senator representing Zamfara West, Abdulaziz Yari.

The reporter said the abductors had contacted their victims’ representatives and demanded N30 million for their release.

“These are the six Sheikhs that were abducted by bandits in Zamfara after attending special prayers session for Tinubu and APC, organised by the DG campaign for APC, Sen. Abdulaziz Yari,” he wrote.

“Bandits are now demanding N30 million ransom for their release.”

The reported incident adds to concerns over abductions and ransom demands by armed groups in parts of Zamfara State.

The Daily Reality could not independently verify the identities of the six clerics, the circumstances of their abduction or the reported ransom demand from the information provided.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigerian actor and social commentator, Adebowale Adedayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, has explained his decision to reduce his public criticism of the government, citing exhaustion from repeating the same concerns, attacks from Nigerians and threats to his life.

Mr Macaroni made the clarification after Wazobia FM shared a video on Tuesday in which he discussed threats he received during the #EndSARS protests.

In a series of posts on X on Wednesday, the actor noted that the interview was conducted more than two years ago. He, however, maintained that the issues he raised during the interview remained relevant.

“Forget about the threats. My issue with us as Nigerians is how we move on quickly. We complain and move on. There is nothing I will say now that I haven’t already said hundred times over. Until we as a people are ready to fight for what is ours, saying the same thing over and over again is just TIRING,” he wrote.

He also referred to a statement he made in March 2026, in which he described President Bola Tinubu’s administration as “the Most Useless Government in the history of Useless Governments.” He said that period marked the point at which he decided to step back from political commentary.

According to him, a limited number of politicians continue to affect the lives of more than 200 million Nigerians “so brazenly without any resistance.”

He further argued that Nigerians must move beyond a “survival mentality” and demand conditions that allow citizens to thrive.

“then we are truly not ready,” he added.

Addressing the perception that he had become less vocal, Mr Macaroni said his reduced commentary should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from the issues he previously raised.

“I have been persecuted and vilified since I started speaking up against Government. Threats are a usual occurrence. Please don’t mix things up. I am only tired of saying the same thing over and over again. When Nigerians are finally ready, I will be ready too! But till then, please let me continue enjoying my break by redefining myself and Art, which I love as dearly as I love Nigeria.”

In the earlier Wazobia FM interview, the actor spoke about the personal consequences of his activism and the criticism he received from some members of the public.

He said his outspoken position often made him appear to be the source of trouble, even when he believed he was speaking on behalf of Nigerians.

“Nigeria is a very funny country. Nigerians are also very funny. And I say this with all seriousness, because I’m not so happy about how things have been. And you keep talking, and it seems like you are the troublesome person. It seems like na you be the—the same Nigerians that you speak for turn against you. They start to fight you,” he said.

Mr Macaroni also said he had no interest in becoming a politician. He expressed disappointment over the political careers of some individuals he once admired.

He recalled people he looked up to during his secondary school and university years who later entered politics and, in his view, harmed the reputations they had previously established.

On his activities after the #EndSARS protests, the actor said he continued to speak publicly despite receiving threats and facing pressure from his family.

“So, you know, End SARS came at risk to my life, threats here and there, serious threats. My family, no time, they were every time calling me, crying, ‘Debo, please. Debo, please.’ Every—every blessed time, my mother. Every blessed time. It was so bad they wanted to fly me out of the country. I said, ‘For what? I’m not running anywhere,’” he said.

He also recalled his involvement in the 2023 general election, when he urged Nigerians to vote wisely while publicly stating the candidate he intended to support.

“And I didn’t—I didn’t go silent after End SARS. I still came out. I said, ‘We must vote wisely.’ I did series of videos, series of tweets, series of—and not only me, a lot of other people too did, saying, ‘Vote wisely. Do this, do that wisely.’ And I said, ‘Okay, this is the person me I will vote for.’ I did not say vote—everybody should go and vote for this person,” he said.

According to him, his decision to identify his preferred candidate drew insults and verbal attacks from some Nigerians.

“See curse, see insult. ‘You are a omo ale, you are this one, you are that one.’ Now, everybody—people vote. Whether, uh, rig, I no know, there no rig, e—e no concern me, but president dey, yes or no? E dey,” he said.

Mr Macaroni said the experience surrounding the election also affected his willingness to continue making repeated political statements.

“Now, everything don dey as e be. Is affecting me too. But what—okay, okay, oya, what should I come and say again now?” he said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over their opposition to the Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike described the APC governors as “politically lazy” during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday.

The former Rivers State governor was responding to the governors’ position against his political activities and their opposition to alliances that could affect President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Wike maintained that his support for Tinubu did not amount to abandoning his political party or preventing other political parties from presenting candidates for elections.

The APC governors, led by their chairman, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, had stated that they would neither participate in, support nor endorse any alliance that could undermine Tinubu’s re-election or affect APC candidates at any level.

Reacting to the position, Wike said, “They are politically lazy. When you have your local problems, don’t use Mr President as your excuse.”

The FCT minister also argued that disagreements over his political activities predated his decision to support Tinubu. He recalled that he faced opposition during his tenure as governor of Rivers State and later after his appointment as FCT minister.

“This thing did not start today. It started at a ministerial position. They were not happy that I was Minister of FCT. Also, they were unhappy when I was governor,” he added.

Wike further said those criticising his political activities might have a different understanding of his decisions if they had access to the information available to him.

He maintained that his understanding of the political situation was based on information that his critics did not have access to.

By Uzair Adam

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has accused the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration of downplaying the worsening insecurity in the country.

The opposition party said it was concerned by the government’s claim that the nation’s security situation had improved, arguing that developments on the ground suggested otherwise.

The APM made its position known while reacting to comments attributed to the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), that insecurity had reduced under the present administration.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the party described the minister’s claim as a “dangerous distortion of reality,” saying independent reports indicated that Nigeria’s insecurity ranking had deteriorated.

According to the APM, Nigeria moved from sixth position in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index to fourth in the 2026 ranking.

Yusuf said it was “deeply disappointing” for a federal minister to make such claims at a time when Nigerians were still being killed, kidnapped, displaced and terrorised in different parts of the country.

The party further accused the administration of being insensitive to the suffering of victims of killings, kidnappings, rape, ransom demands and attacks by bandits.

The APM also cited alleged data from SBM Intelligence indicating that more than N7.78 billion was paid as ransom between July 2025 and June 2026.

It further claimed that about 600 Nigerians, mostly women, children and elderly persons, were abducted from Dekera, Gidan-Zana and Sabon Gida communities in Niger State in the previous week and remained in captivity.

The opposition party challenged President Tinubu, the Defence Minister and other senior government officials to travel by road without armed security escorts if the security situation had indeed improved.

“It is clear that insecurity is festering under President Tinubu because he lacks the capacity to develop and operate a blueprint to tackle and contain the challenge,” the party said.

The APM maintained that the country could not afford another four years under what it described as an “incompetent administration.”

The party urged Nigerians not to lose hope, saying its presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde, had a blueprint capable of addressing insecurity and other challenges confronting the country.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, has come under criticism after a video surfaced in which he allegedly told residents who would not support the All Progressives Congress (APC) to leave the area council.

The remarks have drawn condemnation from civil society organisations and political analysts, who described them as a threat to residents’ constitutional rights and freedom of political choice.

In the video circulating on social media, Shekwolo was heard saying: “I have said in my area council, it’s either you’re doing APC or leave the area council. I am not arguing with you.”

He linked his position to development projects undertaken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The council chairman said residents should support the APC in return for the interventions attributed to the Federal Government and the FCT administration.

“I cannot have the minister and president doing for us what they are doing. Then, on the day of election, you now come and say you want to match me. I will not do it,” he said.

The comments have generated concern ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly over whether political affiliation could become a condition for residents to remain in a community.

Amnesty International, through its country director, Isa Sanusi, condemned the reported remarks and called on security agencies to investigate the matter.

The organisation said no Nigerian should be compelled to link the right to reside in a community with support for a political party.

“Authoritatively saying that those who will not vote APC must leave Kuje area council is a direct threat to lives and an attack on freedom of association and liberty of persons,” the organisation said in a statement.

Amnesty International also urged the police and other security agencies to prevent violence against residents because of their political choices.

“Security agencies must not look the other way, and must ensure that Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo face justice for these reckless and irresponsible threats to the people,” Sanusi said.

The organisation called for accountability if the remarks were established to have been made by the council chairman.

A political and public affairs analyst, Associate Professor Babayo Sule of the University of Namibia, also described the reported statement as a serious matter with implications for citizens’ constitutional rights.

Sule said the warning attributed to Shekwolo, that residents who would not support or vote for the APC and President Bola Tinubu in 2027 should leave Kuje, was “unfortunate” and “disastrous”.

“The recent video clip that is circulating in which the chairman of Kuje local government in the FCT council in Nigeria is busy around issuing a very serious existential threat to any Nigerian citizen that is not ready to support or vote for APC and Tinubu government in 2027 is unfortunate, is disastrous,” he said.

He said the statement raised legal and constitutional concerns, particularly with regard to freedom of movement and political participation.

Sule cited Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees Nigerians the right to move freely and reside in any part of the country.

He also noted that citizens aged 18 and above have the right to participate in political activities and vote for candidates of their choice.

“What this man did is an expression of extreme ignorance, arrogance, lack of understanding of the diversity and complexity of Nigeria’s political environment and socio-cultural context,” Sule said.

He called on the relevant authorities to investigate the matter and said the chairman should be held accountable if it was established that he made the statement.

Sule further warned the APC against ignoring the controversy, saying the remarks could have consequences for the party’s relationship with voters.

Council Clarifies Chairman’s Remarks

The Kuje Area Council administration later moved to explain the chairman’s comments, saying they had been misunderstood and should not be regarded as an instruction for residents to leave the council.

In a statement issued by the Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Musa Samson Adayilo, the council said it remained committed to serving residents regardless of their political affiliations.

“We wish to clarify that the administration of Kuje Area Council remains committed to serving all residents without discrimination on the basis of political affiliation,” Adayilo said.

According to him, the chairman’s comments were intended to encourage residents to support President Tinubu because of development projects carried out in the FCT under the leadership of Wike.

Adayilo appealed to residents and supporters of different political parties not to interpret the comments in a way that could create division.

“Political differences are natural in a democratic society, but they should never become a barrier to peaceful coexistence, development and good governance,” he said.

The council maintained that Kuje belongs to all its residents and urged them to work together despite political differences.

Similar Political Threats In Previous Elections

The controversy has also brought renewed attention to previous statements by political figures and traditional authorities that were perceived as threats against voters because of their political choices.

In the build-up to the 2019 election, Oluremi Tinubu was reported to have criticised Igbos in Lagos and said they were ungrateful after being “accommodated” in the state.

She said: “We will entreat all the deities of Lagos to chase Igbo people out. Igbo who didn’t marry Yoruba, we will inherit them. Given how much we love Igbo, you now want to spoil everything.

“You are not the only tribe in this place, Hausa are here, we accommodate them, Calabar are here, we accommodate them. But Igbos are proving difficult. We will inherit you. Despite the love, we have for you… others are here and we accommodated them.”

In 2015, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, also made controversial remarks while addressing Igbo leaders ahead of the Lagos governorship election.

He warned those who failed to support the APC candidate at the time, Akinwunmi Ambode, of consequences.

“On Saturday, if anyone of you goes against Ambode who I picked, that is your end. If it doesn’t happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it is not my father who gave birth to me.

“On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos state, the person is going to die inside this water.

“I’m not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi is my blood relation and I told him that he cannot be governor in Lagos for now. The future belongs to God. I am not begging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere, don’t do it here.”

He later assured Ndigbo that they would prosper in Lagos if they supported Ambode at the polls.

“If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be prosperous for you. If you go against my wish, you will perish in the water.

“I am for the progress, growth and development of Lagos. Ambode is highly cerebral, he’s a symbol and he is going to deliver the message which I, the Oba of Lagos, have said. And he will govern the state for another eight years.

“He is going on a mission and God will give him the wisdom and knowledge to fulfill that mission. Almost a year ago, I declared that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos and it will not change.”

MC Oluomo’s 2023 Remarks

In 2023, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, who was then Chairman of the State Parks Management Committee in Lagos, was also reported to have warned Igbo voters against going to polling units if they would not vote for the APC.

In a video circulated on social media, Akinsanya addressed a gathering and urged Igbo voters who would not support the party to remain at home.

He said, “It is not a fight. It is not a problem. What do we want to correct? Our PVC. And we will stand there. Yoruba should get there first and should vote first. When we finish voting, we will be watching because we have begged you and you said you have heard. If you make a mistake, you will understand. Please tell them, we have begged them.

“If they don’t vote for us, it is not a fight. Tell them that, Chukwudi’s mother, if you don’t (vote) for us, sit down at home. Do you understand? Sit down at home.”

Osun Senator’s Warning

More recently, two weeks before the August 15 Osun State governorship election, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East, was reported to have issued a death threat against members of the Accord Party found in Ilesa.

“It is animal that kills. Have you ever heard that APC killed anyone? Are those being killed not your people?” Mr Fadahunsi said.

“So, we have come to tell you, up till the day of the election, if we see them, it is killing.”

The statement came a day after three people were killed in a shooting in the Imo area of Ilesa amid heightened political tension.

The latest controversy over the Kuje council chairman’s remarks has therefore renewed concerns over the use of political rhetoric that could intimidate voters or undermine citizens’ freedom to choose political parties and candidates during elections.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Dr. Muhsin Ibrahim, a Nigerian academic from Kano and lecturer at the University of Cologne, Germany, has urged Islamic clerics in Northern Nigeria to stop using religion to campaign for politicians with questionable records.

Ibrahim, who is also active on social media, made the call in a Facebook post on Tuesday while reflecting on the changing role of Islamic scholars in Northern Nigerian society.

He recalled the late Malam Jaafar Mahmud Adam as an example of a cleric who combined strong Islamic scholarship, powerful oratory and independence from political authorities.

Ibrahim specifically cited Sheikh Jaafar’s resignation from the Kano State Hisbah Board during the administration of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau as an indication of his independence from state power.

According to him, Jaafar’s sermons commanded attention because he was willing to speak against those in authority regardless of who occupied political office.

“While, of course, times have changed and many people today lack that religious fervor, we apparently no longer have clerics like Malam Jaafar. His colleagues, including his contemporaries or students, are either in politics or lack that charisma,” he wrote.

The university lecturer said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the conduct of some religious scholars who use their platforms to support politicians despite corruption allegations and questionable records.

“I feel deeply embarrassed by the conduct of some so-called religious scholars. I am of the opinion that everyone has the right to join politics. But how so?” Ibrahim stated.

He urged clerics to separate religious guidance from political support for individuals whose conduct contradicts the values they preach.

“I kindly urge our clerics to stop using religion to campaign for corrupt politicians and others with very questionable records. It’s counterproductive to the religious injunctions you preach. Islam, or any other religion for that matter, doesn’t condone corruption and injustice,” he said.

Ibrahim also called on Islamic scholars to use their pulpits to demand greater protection for Nigerians amid worsening insecurity across the country.

“Our clerics need to change course. Use your pulpits to call on the government to protect the lives and the businesses of the Nigerian citizens,” he said.

He expressed concern over the spread of kidnapping, noting that innocent Nigerians were being abducted from places that should ordinarily provide safety.

“From mosques to markets, schools, and houses, innocent people have been kidnapped. Pressure the authorities to stop this madness. This is the leadership we need,” Ibrahim added.

Ibrahim’s comments come amid renewed public discussions about the role of Islamic scholars and religious institutions in Nigerian politics, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, in the Facebook post, he did not specifically mention the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or any particular political party or candidate.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has said President Bola Tinubu has performed better than every democratically elected president in Nigeria.

Morka made the claim during an interview with Channels Television on Monday, where he also said Tinubu inherited an economy that was “completely in a mess”.

Asked to identify the indicators that informed his assessment of Tinubu’s performance, the APC spokesperson said the available economic indicators were enough to support the claim.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has outperformed any president in his first term. He has outperformed any democratically elected president in this country in their terms,” he said.

“The indicators are res ipsa loquitur as we say in law; they speak for themselves. This president inherited an economy that was completely in a mess.”

Morka attributed the country’s economic difficulties to what he described as the failures of successive administrations.

He said former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration came after 16 years of what he described as poor governance under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Buhari was a stopgap president that really came to keep the country from tipping over the precipice — from 16 years of horrific maladministration of the PDP government,” he added.

“President Buhari served his term, did his job to hold the country still for President Tinubu to enter.”

The APC spokesman also claimed that Tinubu’s administration had introduced changes that had led some of its previous critics to acknowledge its progress.

According to him, Nigeria has “come out of the woods” at the macroeconomic level as a result of policies introduced by the Tinubu administration.

However, Morka did not provide specific details or comparative figures to demonstrate how Tinubu had outperformed previous democratically elected presidents.

The APC controlled the federal government under Buhari from 2015 to 2023 before Tinubu succeeded him as president in 2023 under the same political party.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, naming former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General and Governor Hope Uzodimma as Secretary.

The announcement, made on Saturday, August 22, 2026, establishes a comprehensive structure to steer the party’s re-election bid in the January 2027 presidential elections. President Tinubu will serve as Chairman of the council, with Vice President Kashim Shettima as Vice Chairman.

The campaign council’s leadership includes Party Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as Vice Chairman, while APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Bashiru and Hadiza Bala-Usman have been appointed as Deputy and Assistant Secretaries respectively.

A distinguished body of advisers will guide the Chairman’s office, comprising Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and Senator Florence Ita Giwa.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abass, and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni have been assigned as Deputy Director-Generals for the campaign in the southern and northern zones. They will work alongside Senator Bamidele Opeyemi and Senator Jibril Barau in their respective regions.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole will serve as Deputy Director-General for Mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff has been appointed as Deputy Director-General for Administration.

James Abiodun Faleke, who played a pivotal role in the 2022/2023 campaign, returns as Deputy Director-General for Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring. He will work with zonal directors across the six geopolitical zones:

1· South West: Senator Olushola Adeyeye

2· South South: Dr Ngozi Olejeme

3· South East: Senator Uche Ekwunife

4· North West: Muntaqha Rabe

5· North Central: Ahmed Muhammed Ketso

6· North East: Senator Sani Danladi

Ms Stella Okotete, Engineer Abdullahi Garba Ramat, and Audu Maikori will serve as secretaries of the election planning directorate.

Muiz Adeyemi Banire will lead the legal directorate as Director, with Dr Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala as deputies. Other members include Prince Lateef Fagbemi, former Governor Ibrahim Shema, Worgu Boms, and Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, will serve as Coordinating Director for Media and Strategic Communication, working alongside Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga, and Lanre Issa-Onilu. The media directorate also includes Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala, and Felix Morka as coordinating deputy directors.

Abdulaziz AbdulAziz will work with Temitope Ajayi, Arabinrin Aderonke, and Frederick Nwabufor as coordinating secretaries of the media directorate. Segun Dada returns as Director of New Media, with Solomon Arowolo serving as Secretary of New Media.

The campaign has appointed five spokespersons, led by Dele Alake. Other spokespersons are Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, and Adamu Fanda.

President Tinubu has charged all council members to work tirelessly to deliver victory for the party in the January 2027 elections. He has also encouraged leaders of the various directorates to reach out to other party members who may not have been formally listed to join their crucial efforts.

“We have delivered on our campaign promises and set our country on a path of economic progress. We are definitely out of the dark tunnel and are now at the cusp of reaping the benefits of a prosperous economy that will benefit all Nigerians,” President Tinubu stated.

“As we march into the campaign season, we have many achievements to trumpet—let us confidently showcase our record and inspire hope in every corner of our nation. Let us soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards.”

The announcement signals the formal commencement of APC’s campaign machinery ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a structure that blends experienced political operatives with strategic administrative personnel.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has urged beneficiaries of its land allocation programme not to sell their plots, saying the allocations are intended to provide long-term security and wealth for families rather than short-term financial gain.

The call was made on Sunday during the presentation of land allocation documents to polling agents in Kano under the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Governor Yusuf, in a speech delivered by the Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Nura Ma’aji Sumaila, said the land allocation programme was part of a broader policy to expand home ownership across the state.

He said the initiative would gradually be extended to more segments of society, including young people, women, civil servants, community leaders and other hardworking citizens, as part of efforts to reduce the housing deficit and improve family security.

The governor noted that beneficiaries had received plots in professionally planned government layouts equipped with road networks, drainage systems, schools, healthcare facilities, markets, places of worship, parks and other public infrastructure.

According to him, proper urban planning would make it easier for government to provide essential services while increasing the long-term value of the properties.

The Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Muhammad Umar, urged beneficiaries not to dispose of their plots because of short-term financial needs.

“Please do not sell your land allocation because of short-term financial needs. Instead, develop it, build your home and create a lasting asset for your family,” Umar said.

He explained that the allocated plots were located within government-approved layouts designed to create organised, safe and sustainable communities where families could live, invest and prosper.

Umar contrasted the layouts with illegal land developments, popularly known as Awon Igiya, which he said had contributed to unplanned settlements, flooding, traffic congestion, insecurity, land disputes and slum conditions across parts of the state.

He said the government remained committed to ending illegal land development and restoring order to land administration across Kano State.

The Daily Reality recalls that the Kano State Government on Saturday commenced the distribution of land allocation documents to political appointees, including Senior Special Assistants, Senior Special Reporters, Special Assistants, Special Reporters and Personal Assistants. 

The government said the exercise, which concluded on Sunday with the presentation to polling agents, was expected to benefit about 2,500 beneficiaries as part of its broader effort to expand home ownership and reduce the state’s housing deficit.

By Zayyad I. Muhammad 

President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election is both a political and strategic calculation. Rather than introducing uncertainty into an already established political partnership, the President has chosen continuity, a decision that reflects the realities of Nigeria’s electoral politics, geopolitical balancing, and coalition-building.

Politics, particularly presidential politics in Nigeria, is rarely driven by sentiment. It is fundamentally about numbers, alliances, regional interests, and electoral strategy. Every major decision is weighed against one overriding objective: securing the broadest possible coalition needed to win an election. Viewed from that perspective, retaining Shettima was arguably the most pragmatic option available to the President.

One of the most immediate advantages of the decision is that it effectively closes the chapter on the controversy surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the APC’s decision to field two Muslim candidates generated widespread debate, especially among many Christians who expressed concerns about religious inclusion and national balance.

However, after more than three years in office, that issue has largely lost its political intensity. While differing opinions remain, the fears that dominated public discourse during the 2023 campaign have, to a considerable extent, subsided. By retaining Shettima, President Tinubu has denied political opponents the opportunity to revive an issue whose electoral potency has significantly diminished.

Beyond the religious debate lies an even more delicate consideration: Nigeria’s geopolitical balance. Had President Tinubu replaced Shettima with another politician from the North-East, the North-West, the country’s largest voting bloc, could have interpreted the move as another instance in which its political aspirations were overlooked, potentially reigniting debates about equity and representation.

Conversely, choosing a replacement from the North-West would almost certainly have generated discontent in the North-East. Having produced the incumbent Vice President, the region would naturally expect to retain the position. Removing Shettima without any compelling political or governance justification could have alienated key stakeholders and weakened support in a region that remains strategically important to the APC.

Some time ago, a number of individuals campaigned for the selection of a northern Christian as the Vice President, arguing that a Muslim-Christian ticket would be more politically acceptable. While the proposal appealed to those seeking religious balancing, it overlooked the practical realities of Nigerian presidential elections.

For a southern Muslim presidential candidate seeking the presidency, pairing with a northern Christian is not necessarily the most pragmatic electoral formula if the objective is to maximise support across Northern Nigeria. Presidential elections are rarely won on symbolism alone. They are won through careful coalition-building, political structures, regional alliances, and voting strength. In Nigeria, electoral success is driven as much by geopolitical realities and numbers as it is by perception.

President Tinubu has built his political career on strategic calculation rather than emotional decision-making. Over several decades, he has demonstrated an ability to assemble winning political coalitions by focusing on electoral arithmetic, regional dynamics, and long-term political stability. His decision to retain Shettima is consistent with that political philosophy.

There is also the question of continuity. Since assuming office in 2023, Tinubu and Shettima have worked together to lead the administration, build relationships across government, and strengthen the APC’s political structures nationwide. Replacing a sitting Vice President without a compelling reason could have created unnecessary speculation about internal divisions and handed the opposition a fresh political narrative.

By retaining Shettima, President Tinubu has instead projected stability, confidence, and consistency. The decision preserves an established partnership, reassures party supporters, and allows the APC to approach the 2027 election with a united front.

Ultimately, successful presidential campaigns are built not on emotion but on careful political judgment. Difficult decisions are inevitable, but experienced politicians choose the option that minimises political risk while maximising electoral advantage.

Judged against Nigeria’s electoral realities, geopolitical sensitivities, and the imperative of preserving a broad national coalition, President Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima was not only the least controversial choice,it was the most politically strategic.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes Abuja via zaymohd@yahoo.com.