Tinubu Can’t Win 2027 Without Shettima — Umar Duhu, Pioneer North-East National Vice Chairman of APC

Tinubu Can’t Win 2027 Without Shettima — Umar Duhu, Pioneer North-East National Vice Chairman of APC

By Idun Maximus

Pioneer North-East National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Duhu, has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 is impossible without his Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.

Duhu, one of the founding pillars of the ruling party, warned that dropping Shettima from the ticket would amount to “political suicide” for the APC, stressing that the Vice President’s hold on the northern electorate remains the party’s most valuable asset.

“The truth is simple: Tinubu cannot do it without Shettima. The Vice President is the bridge between the President and the northern grassroots. Without him, APC cannot survive 2027”, Duhu said.

According to Duhu, Shettima commands enormous goodwill across the North, a region he described as the ultimate decider in Nigerian elections.

“The North is the critical voting bloc. Shettima has built trust here as a moderate and unifier. His influence is not something you can substitute or gamble with”, he explained.

Commenting on President Tinubu’s recent commendation of Shettima, Duhu argued that the gesture was more than ceremonial.

“Tinubu is a strategist. His praise of Shettima was deliberate — a message to reassure the North that their partnership remains intact. It was political communication at its finest”, Duhu said.

Duhu stated that within APC’s hierarchy, Shettima’s place on the 2027 ticket is treated as a closed matter.

“In legal terms, it’s res judicata — a settled case. Shettima is not just a deputy; he is the stabilizer of this government. Anyone speculating otherwise is simply daydreaming”, he declared.

The APC chieftain noted that opposition parties were wary of the Tinubu–Shettima alliance, admitting it poses a formidable challenge ahead of the polls.

“If the ticket holds, the opposition has a mountain to climb. Tinubu brings national reach, Shettima brings northern strength — together, it is a winning formula”, he said.

Duhu urged Nigerians to look beyond ethnic and sectional politics as 2027 approaches.

“What this country needs is stability and inclusivity. The Tinubu–Shettima ticket represents balance. Nigerians must rally behind leaders who appreciate our diversity and are ready to govern for all”, he concluded.