2027: Tinubu will choose his running mate after APC convention — Presidency

Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, has stated that the president will decide on his 2027 running mate only after the next All Progressives Congress (APC) convention.

In an interview with Daily Trust, Onanuga addressed recent speculation suggesting that President Tinubu might drop Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 elections. The rumors intensified after Tinubu was endorsed for a second term at an APC stakeholders summit in Gombe — an endorsement that notably omitted Shettima’s name, sparking disruptions from some delegates.

Onanuga downplayed the speculation, calling it a “non-issue,” and clarified that under Nigeria’s presidential system, candidates are typically nominated before selecting a running mate.

“That’s how it happened with Buhari. He was nominated first, then picked his running mate,” he explained. “Once INEC releases its timetable, the party convention will take place. If the president secures the nomination, he will then select a running mate.”

He also dismissed any alleged rift between Tinubu and Shettima as baseless gossip.

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“I’m not aware of any problem between the president and the vice president. From all indications, they have an excellent working relationship,” Onanuga said. “People are spreading absurd rumors — some even claim Seyi Tinubu is the vice president. It’s complete nonsense.”