2027: Tinubu eyeing Christian running mate
As the 2027 presidential election approaches, internal dynamics within the All Progressives Congress (APC) are becoming more complex, with speculation mounting that President Bola Tinubu may be eyeing a Christian running mate from the North Central region.
Dr. Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, shared this perspective during a Saturday interview on Arise TV. He noted that strategic shifts are underway within the ruling party as it navigates both internal pressures and broader electoral considerations.
Amadi’s comments come amid growing attention to President Tinubu’s relationship with his current Vice President, Kashim Shettima. The VP’s name was conspicuously omitted during a recent APC zonal endorsement event in Gombe State—a development that fueled speculation about possible tensions and his status on the 2027 ticket. According to Amadi, this pointed to a “controlled messaging” approach that reflects political realities.
Referencing Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State, where he had a record of frequently changing deputies, Amadi suggested a possible repetition of that pattern on a national level. He argued that the idea of replacing Shettima with a Christian candidate from the North Central zone could be part of a calculated effort to strengthen the APC’s national appeal—particularly in response to criticism of the party’s 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Amadi said such a strategy could be advantageous, especially considering the North Central has never produced a president or vice president since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. “Any strategist around Tinubu would see merit in presenting a Southern Muslim and a Northern Christian ticket, especially from a region like the North Central, which is crucial for electoral success,” he said.
He further explained that while this shift might broaden the party’s inclusivity and voter base in the Middle Belt, it could also create political fallout if Shettima is sidelined. Amadi warned of potential “collateral damage,” noting that the Vice President’s allies may have worsened their position by reacting publicly to the Gombe incident. “No president wants to keep a running mate who becomes the focus of controversy or political pressure,” he said.
Amadi also emphasized that evolving voter behavior—particularly among younger Nigerians—could reshape traditional campaign strategies. Today’s youth, he said, are more interested in competence and governance than in ethnic or religious representation.
This, he concluded, may compel the APC to rethink how it balances political symbolism with performance credibility as it heads into the next general election. Punch
