President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not decide on his running mate for the 2027 presidential election until he secures the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination at the party’s convention in 2026, according to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Trust on Thursday, Onanuga dismissed growing speculation about Vice President Kashim Shettima’s position, particularly in light of his omission from recent endorsements for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He described the controversy as a “non-issue,” emphasizing that the presidential system prioritizes the emergence of the candidate before selecting a running mate.
“When I read the report, I dismissed it. In a presidential system, the candidate emerges first and then selects a running mate. That’s what happened under Buhari—he was nominated first and later picked his running mate. Once INEC releases the timetable, the party convention will hold, and if the president is nominated again, he will choose his running mate,” Onanuga said.
Addressing suggestions that Tinubu’s silence on Shettima’s exclusion from endorsements signaled a rift, Onanuga firmly rejected the notion.
“I’m not aware of any issues between the president and the vice president. From what I know, they have an excellent working relationship. All the speculation is just beer parlour gossip,” he stated, dismissing claims that Tinubu’s son, Seyi, was acting as a de facto vice president as “absolute nonsense.”
Onanuga also refuted claims that Tinubu’s history as Lagos State governor—where he changed deputies twice—suggested a plan to drop Shettima.
“That’s just speculation. Yes, when he was governor, there were issues. In his first term, he and his deputy, Kofo, didn’t get along, and she had to leave. Femi Pedro replaced her. In the second term, Pedro defected because he wanted to be governor. That’s why he had to go. It’s wrong to say he has a pattern of discarding deputies,” he explained.
On the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket that secured Tinubu’s 2023 victory, Onanuga downplayed concerns about its potential repetition in 2027.
“Christians are living their lives. The president even attended the Pope’s inauguration in Rome. There’s nothing to worry about. Many of the names being speculated as potential running mates are Muslims. So again, this isn’t an issue,” he said.
Responding to criticisms over premature endorsements for Tinubu before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially opens the campaign period, Onanuga defended the move as a necessary counter to opposition attacks.
“The endorsements are a reaction to something. If the opposition hadn’t started throwing missiles at the Tinubu administration and the APC, we would have waited until next year to respond. You can’t expect the president to sit by while his opponents are plotting openly against him,” he said.
Onanuga expressed gratitude for the confidence shown in Tinubu, adding that the APC was ready to “square up” against its rivals. “We welcome the endorsements, even though the campaign period hasn’t officially begun. But because the opposition jumped the gun, the ruling party can’t just fold its arms,” he concluded.
As the 2027 election cycle looms, Shettima’s future remains uncertain, with Tinubu’s decision hinging on the outcome of the APC’s 2026 convention.
