Politics
Dropping Shettima won’t stop Tinubu’s 2027 victory — APC N’Central Forum chair
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Forum in the North-Central, Saleh Zazzaga, speaks with IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI on the region’s political interest, opposition realignment against President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, internal party threats, and the future of Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of 2027
Some opposition elements have claimed that Professor Nentawe Yilwatda’s emergence as the APC National Chairman threatens the credibility of the upcoming general election because he is a former Resident Electoral Commissioner. Isn’t this concern legitimate?
No, the man resigned from the position in 2022. He contested for the Plateau State governorship under the platform of All Progressives Congress and lost the election. But based on our calculations, he is the best to lead our party to victory in 2027. More so, you can’t predict the outcome of the next election based on our chairman’s past performance. This is because a lot of people play religion politics against him at the last election. But this won’t happen in 2027.
Recently, the All Nigeria Peoples Party bloc in the APC threatened to dump your party if President Bola Tinubu drops Vice President Kashim Shettima and fails to pick someone else from their bloc. What is your take on this?
There is no person or group of people that will pull out of the APC that will make President Tinubu lose the 2027 election. That will not even happen because he has a strong relationship with Shettima and the rest. The ANPP people are only trying to create a gap between the President and the VP. But even if that happens, the President will still have his lead in the 2027 election. We have a feeling that those who called the press conference are not even leaders of the ANPP bloc. So, we can’t take them seriously. More so, even if the President decides to change the VP, it’s for the interest of the APC. If you look at the last election, the President closely lost in Borno State. The President lost the entire North-East. So, if calculation will lead to changing the VP, nothing will happen.
Are you saying the ANPP leaders are being sponsored to cause issues between Tinubu and the VP?
Yes, exactly and they know their sponsors. They just want to create issues where there is none. This is because as we speak, there has been no official statement that President Tinubu is going to change Shettima. So those agitating should wait and see. If the President will change Shettima, he will just issue a statement that will convince everybody.
You said that going by calculations President Tinubu can decide to drop Shettima because in the last election, he did not win the North-East. Will that be a fair ground to drop the VP?
If calculation gives us that alternative to change Shettima, why not? At least, it is for the interest of winning the 2027 election. Mind you, we are not talking of regional interest. We are only calculating how to win the 2027 election. We will do our mathematics to know what is going to happen in the next election. If going with Shettima will give us victory, why should we change him? We will simply manage him and continue with him. But if we do our calculations and find that we are not going to win the 2027 election that way, we will have no alternative than to change him.
Do you think Shettima has performed well enough to make the APC win his region in the next election should the President decide to run with him?
The VP has tried his best. It is just the ANPP people who are trying to strain his relationship with the President, all in a bid to gratify their own interests and those of the opposition parties. They are just trying to create problem between the two leaders.
Are you saying those people are likely being sponsored by the African Democratic Congress?
No, opposition parties. It might not be only the ADC because we do not take the party seriously. We believe that very soon the party (ADC) will scatter because it is being programmed to fulfill the interests of a particular person. So, if that person doesn’t have his way, some of the people will fall out and the party will not be the same.
Whose interests are you talking about?
The party is running for the interests of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, from all indications. If you see the kind of people in the party, all of them are Atiku’s supporters. So, if they don’t give Atiku the presidential ticket, the party will crash. I’m very, very sure. You will just wait and see. Time shall tell.
The North Central seems to be agitating for the vice-presidential slot under President Bola Tinubu in 2027. How true is this?
No, I kicked against that. You know, we cannot just agitate for something of four years. If we are to bring something from the North Central, we need somebody that will spend eight years, not four years. Automatically, if they substitute Kashim Shettima with someone from North Central, the person is going to be there for only four years. I am against that agitation. Let Tinubu and Shettima finish their term with anybody from any region, not from North Central. If they are going to zone, let them zone the presidency to the North Central, not the vice presidency.
So you feel it is better they should zone the presidency to your region and not the vice presidency?
Yes, after Tinubu’s second term. This is because of all the regions, we (North-Central) and South-East, are the only ones that haven’t produced a president or vice president since the beginning of current democratic dispensation. And we have contributed a lot. In the last general election, we gave APC five governors (Nasarawa, Niger, Benue, Kogi, and Kwara). No other zone produced five governors for the APC in 2023. We gave President Bola Tinubu the third highest number of votes after South-West and North-West. Secondly, among all the zones, we had the highest number of governors, senators, Reps, and House of Assembly members.
Recently, the New Nigeria People’s Party and the presidency have been locked in a verbal war over alleged marginalisation of northern Nigeria. Will you say President Tinubu’s administration has truly been fair to the North?
Yes, 100 per cent. This is because insecurity, whose rate used to be very high is 30 per cent now. The economy of the country is also developing every day. If not because of Tinubu, we don’t even know what would have happened in the country. So, I believe the President has really tried in the area of security. He has also sited some education and health infrastructure in the North. He has done a lot for us.
The North seems divided over President Tinubu’s re-election. Do you believe the President deserves a second term based on current state of the country?
If you look at the people leading the opposition coalition, you will see that it is only North Central that hasn’t brought anybody forward to contest against the president, because we believe in his leadership. We see the massive achievements. There used to be high rate of insecurity before, but it is over now.
But dozens were killed in Benue and Plateau in recent months?
You cannot stop all like that. But the President is trying. There is a lot of effort he is putting on the ground to end insecurity in our zone. So, we cannot challenge that. Before, our natives could not access their own farms. But now, some of them are already in their farms, due to his effort. So, we believe that with the current effort he is putting in place, in the next two years, insecurity will end in our region.
Since being adopted by opposition coalition, the African Democratic Congress has been gaining momentum across the country, attracting members in the Peoples Democratic Party and the APC. Don’t you think this may likely pose a significant threat to President Tinubu’s re-election?
No. They are going nowhere. They are an association of past politicians. They are not even recent politicians. They cannot go anywhere. All those people are power hungry. All of them have served in various capacities. We know how they play. So, the masses are not going to support them. The people still trust President Tinubu’s leadership.
Are you saying the coalition leaders do not have support base. What of Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State governor?
Yes, if you call El-Rufai, can you name three or four more people?
What about former Vice President Atiku Abubakar?
No. That person doesn’t have any value. When he was vice president of this country, there was no evidence in his village. We know all their records.
What about Peter Obi of the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement?
Peter Obi won’t get the kind of support he had in the last election because they are not going to make him their candidate. They will overpower him and won’t give him the ticket. Even if they give him the ticket, in the last election, how many votes did Obi have in Anambra State?
He had over 580,000 votes in Anambra State out of 624,612 total vote cast? So you don’t still think he is a force to reckon with?
No. Go and check again. The records are there. All I know is they are going nowhere.
What if ADC eventually picks Obi as its standard-bearer?
If they finally pick Obi, they know they are not going to win. All the northerners will not vote for him. None of them will support him. We know their politics.
But some of them voted for him in the last election. He won Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory?
And which state again? You only mentioned one, but the North has 19 states.
Considering that segments of the PDP, and even parts of the APC are folding into the ADC, alongside the deepening alliances of Atiku and El-Rufai, don’t you think if Obi clinches the party’s ticket, he would pose a formidable challenge to Tinubu?
No. The politics of northern Nigeria is different. Immediately Obi becomes the candidate of ADC in the forthcoming election, just believe me, that is the end of the ADC movement.
Are you saying giving Obi the ticket would sink the ADC?
Yes, Obi or Atiku. If any of them gets the ADC ticket, that is the end of the party. Though Obi will win some votes, he is not going to win many states. I believe President Tinubu’s performance will overcome all of them.
Do you see governors from PDP and even APC eventually joining the ADC-led coalition as the 2027 presidential race hots up?
No, it’s not going to be possible. Instead of them joining ADC, they will rather come to APC. This is because the governors are in the best position to know President Tinubu’s achievements. So, they cannot go to any ADC. Instead, they will join the APC. Since the creation of this country, we’ve never had a president that touched the lives of the common man like Tinubu.
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The All Progressives Congress has released a revised schedule of activities and timetable for the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
The party also sets nomination and expression of interest forms at a combined N50 million, offered significant concessions, including exemptions for female aspirants and persons with disabilities, and a 50% discount on nomination fees for youths aged 25 to 40.
According to the timetable issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, the schedule outlines a series of pre-election activities beginning with the release of the notice to the Ekiti State chapter on Friday, July 26, 2025.
The party said the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms is set to commence on Monday, August 26, 2025.
It stated that the update of the party’s membership register for those eligible to participate in the primaries will take place from Monday, July 29, to Friday, August 9, 2025.
The ruling party said the expression of interest and nomination forms will be available for purchase from Monday, August 26, and will close on Friday, August 30, 2025.
The party said the last day for submission of completed forms, including the accompanying documents, is Thursday, September 11, 2025.
“Screening of aspirants is scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, while the publication of the screening results will be done the following day, Wednesday, September 24. Aspirants who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the screening may submit appeals on Thursday, September 25, 2025.
“The ward congress to elect delegates is scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025, while appeals arising from the congress will be entertained on Monday, September 29. The party’s governorship primary election will take place on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, with the appeal process concluding on Thursday, October 2, 2025,” the timetable read.
The party said the cost of the nomination form has been pegged at ₦40 million, while the expression of interest form will cost ₦10 million, bringing the total to ₦50 million.
“Female aspirants and persons with disabilities are exempted from paying for the nomination form and are only required to purchase the expression of interest form. Youths aged 25 to 40 will receive a 50 percent discount on the nomination form,” it added.
The party also announced that the forms would be available for purchase at the Directorate of Organisation at APC’s National Headquarters in Abuja. Meanwhile, the delegate form will cost ₦5,000.
The APC stressed that only financial members of the party whose membership has been active for at least three months before the release of the timetable will be eligible to participate.
The party urged interested members to contact its Directorate of Organisation or reach out via the contact number provided in the document.
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Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Kano State have unanimously endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term.
Similarly, they reaffirmed their loyalty to a former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, endorsing him as the leader of the APC in Kano State.
The endorsement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting held at Ganduje’s residence on Tuesday.
Speaking during the meeting, the State APC Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, said the gathering was aimed at addressing internal party issues, promoting unity among members, and preparing the party to face the forthcoming general elections.
“The high-level stakeholders meeting of the All Progressives Congress, Kano State Chapter, is convened to assess the current state of the party, review recent developments, and chart a cohesive path forward.
“We are fully committed to the success of President Tinubu and our great party. This meeting is about consolidating our base, strengthening our unity, and positioning the APC to win convincingly in 2027,” he said.
He expressed the readiness and willingness of the party to reconcile with all aggrieved members, stressing that the APC in Kano is open to reconciliation and expansion.
He added that the party is ready to welcome members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement if they decide to join the APC.
The meeting was attended by prominent party leaders, including Kabir Abubakar Bichi, Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation; APC’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna; and Murtala Garo.
Also in attendance were Senator Abdurrahman Sumaila, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream); members of the National and State Assemblies; as well as two ministers from Kano—the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Bunkure, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Ata.
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The national leadership of the Labour Party has dissociated itself from a planned protest scheduled for Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja.
A statement issued on Tuesday by Mr Ken Asogwa, the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Interim National Chairman of the party, Senator Nenadi Usman, said the party has no connection with the proposed protest.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to an invitation circulating in certain quarters regarding a purported protest scheduled to hold tomorrow, Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“This protest is allegedly being organised by some unknown individuals purportedly operating under the banner of the Labour Party.
“We wish to categorically state that the said protest is not sanctioned by the Labour Party.
“The organisers are unknown to the party’s leadership, and the action lacks the approval and backing of the party.
“The public is hereby put on notice that anyone participating in or promoting this protest is doing so without the consent of the Labour Party and should be regarded as an impostor.”
The party referenced INEC’s recent rejection of a list of candidates for upcoming national bye-elections and local council elections submitted by former chairman Julius Abure, and his group, describing the decision as a welcome development.
“The Labour Party received that decision with relief, knowing that INEC, as a responsible electoral umpire, would eventually proceed to accept and publish the authentic list submitted by the current, lawful leadership of the party,” the statement said.
It further urged INEC to stand firm and continue to ignore what it described as the “desperate antics” of individuals whose tenure expired on June 8, 2023, and whose exit was confirmed by the Supreme Court in its judgment of April 4, 2025.
“While we await INEC’s timely action in publishing the valid list of candidates submitted by the legitimate party leadership, we also call on the commission to give full effect to the said Supreme Court ruling by updating its official portal and other platforms to reflect the correct leadership of the Labour Party in line with the court’s judgment,” the party added.
The party called on security agencies to take note of the situation and warned that those organising the protest should not be treated as representatives of the Labour Party.
“These persons planning to stage a protest at INEC headquarters on August 6, 2025, are not representatives of the Labour Party.
“They are political impersonators and mischief-makers, and should be treated as such.
“We call for their immediate arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law,” the statement concluded.
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