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By Oscar Okhifo, Abuja
A prominent group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the APC North-West Reclamation Front (ANRF), has thrown its weight behind Vice President Kashim Shettima, urging that he retain his position on the party’s ticket alongside President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
A statement by the National Coordinator, Mallam Hisham Habib, and the Deputy National Coordinator (Special Duties), Safwan Umar, made available to newsmen in Kano on Tuesday, said Shettima remains the most suitable choice for continuity, stability, and the strengthening of the APC’s national appeal.
The ANRF said the leadership of the party and Nigerians cannot afford to lose Shettima, who as the number two citizen will undoubtedly leave a vacuum if excluded from the 2027 race. The group urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the interest of the party and the nation at large.
It extolled the indispensable leadership qualities of Senator Kashim Shettima, noting that during his tenure as Governor of Borno State, he left a towering legacy and has since demonstrated remarkable capacity in supporting President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda with utmost loyalty.
The group disclosed that after consultations with stakeholders from Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kebbi, and Zamfara States, a unanimous decision was reached to support a renewed Tinubu/Shettima ticket. It further appealed to aggrieved members within the party to sheathe their swords in the interest of peace and the stability of the APC and Nigeria at large.
“As leaders from the North, we can see that Shettima is poised towards bringing the desired dividends of democracy to a united North, and a wider consultation will be the best way to resolve all internal misunderstandings within our great party,” the statement added.
The ANRF also commended the efforts of the party leadership while reiterating the need to empower women and youth, who are often marginalized in the political process.
There have been speculations within the ranks of the All Progressives Congress on whether President Tinubu will retain Kashim Shettima as his running mate in 2027.