Politics

VP Slot: Babachir’s Panel Recommended Shettima, 10 Others To Tinubu

Published

4 years ago

July 14, 2022

Babachir David Lawal

Former Borno State governor, Senator Kashim Shettima, headlined a list of 11 persons recommended for consideration for the choice of running mate to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by the Planning and Strategy Committee of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation (TCO) headed by Mr Babachir David Lawal, Daily Trust reports.

The recommendation was contained in a report of a sub-committee chaired by Senator Grace Folasade Bent sighted by one of our reporters.

Members of the Lawal committee told this paper that the final report of the committee was concluded on Tuesday last week and submitted to Tinubu by Lawal, who travelled to London on Wednesday for the purpose.

It was after he received the report that the APC candidate travelled back to Nigeria where he announced the name of Shettima as his choice for running mate on Sunday.

Shettima was first on the list of the seven persons shortlisted from the North-East geopolitical zone, in addition to four others recommended from the North West.

Babachir, who was Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) between 2015 and 2017, had on Tuesday faulted the selection of Shettima as running mate to Tinubu for the February 25, 2023, presidential election.

In a statement Tuesday night, Babachir said Christians all over the country will revolt against the APC for choosing Shettima, a Muslim, to deputise Tinubu.

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But contrary to his opposition to the Muslim-Muslim ticket and his censure of Shettima as unfit for the vice presidential role, the report showed that the committee says a Muslim-Muslim ticket will give Tinubu “guaranteed victory” and listed many Muslims for consideration.

The report however weighed the merits and demerits of Muslim-Christian and Muslim-Muslim tickets for the APC candidate and highlighted the implications of possible apathy and protest from the Christian community in the event of the adoption of a Muslim running mate.

Daily Trust gathered that the members of the planning and strategy committee, which was constituted three months ago included Senator Magnus Abe; pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu; Senator Abu Ibrahim; Senator Bent; Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo; Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, Rep Abiodun Faleke, Rep Musa Sarkin-Adar, among others.

One of the members of the committee said after the emergence of Tinubu as the flagbearer of the APC, a sub-committee was constituted to provide guidance on the selection of a running mate and director general of the campaign team.

He said Senator Bent was named as the chairperson of the sub-committee under the supervision of the main committee chaired by the former SGF.

Another member of the panel said the decision to pick Shettima was in line with the committee’s recommendation insisting that Tinubu worked with the guidance provided.

“In arriving at our recommendation, we looked at all persuasions including religion, gender and acceptability. We looked at those who can add value to the ticket,” he said.

He said that the report of the committee passed through Lawal before getting to the former Lagos State governor.

“He was part of the decision and the report got to the presidential candidate through him,” he said.

“First, we sent the soft copy of our report to Asiwaju before BD Lawal took the hard copy to him in London last Wednesday,” he said.

Contacted, Senator Abu Ibrahim, an ally of Tinubu and a member of the committee, confirmed the recommendation of the committee.

“Senator Shettima was selected after wide consultation. Our committee has submitted its report to Asiwaju and his name is there,” he said but declined further comment.

Ibrahim, however, assured that “There is no cause for alarm on a Muslim-Muslim ticket. I can assure you, Asiwaju will be fair and just to all”.

El-Rufai, Wamakko, Dogara, others recommended

It was gathered that the committee recommended seven persons from the North East and four persons from the North West geopolitical zones.

The panel did not recommend any person from the North Central geopolitical zone.

Panel members said the North Central was not considered because the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, hails from Nasarawa State in the geopolitical zone.

After Shettima’s name, in the list from the North East, is Kashim Imam, an associate of Tinubu. Other persons recommended from the zone were; the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum; a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, Ambassador Fatima Balla and Senator Anthony Manzo.

In the North West, the committee recommended Hajiya Najatu Mohammed, Kaduna State governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, a former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, and the Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu.

Ex-SGF confirms chairing panel, distances self from running mates recommendations

In a phone interview Wednesday night, Lawal confirmed chairing the planning and strategy committee but that he was not aware of any sub-committee.

“I chaired the Bola Tinubu Planning and Strategy Committee, which was set up to implement strategies for Tinubu to pick the ticket. But I’m not aware of the sub-committee that recommended running mates. It is not our work. You know politicians can cook up anything,” he said.

APC chairman in Daura, defends Muslim-Muslim ticket

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Wednesday, defended the decision of the party’s presidential candidate to settle for Shettima as his running mate.

Adamu fielded questions from State House reporters after leading members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to pay a courtesy call on President Muhammadu Buhari in his country home in Daura, Katsina State.

Adamu said the party had to agree on the strategic decision because of the reality of politics in Nigeria, stressing that nobody was out to promote Christian-Christian or Muslim-Muslim ticket.

When asked about his message to Nigerian Christians who were agitated by the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the party, he said: “The fact of the matter is that God doesn’t do anything in vain. God has His reasons for having two major religious persuasions to be in this country. And each of these groups has good people whom I have reason to believe they have also a stake. We have had times when Christians led this country. We have had times when Muslims led this country. We can’t deny that fact. We can’t have what we want at a point in time all of us agreeing to one thing.

“The fact of the matter is we appreciate that the Christians are interested, no doubt about it, but the fact of the matter is that we are as practical as can in this situation. And we do hope that people see reason. Nobody is willing to promote Christianity or Muslim ticket necessarily. But we have to face the reality of our politics in the country. That’s what we are doing,” he said.

When asked if he had nothing to fear about the development, Adamu said: “Absolutely, nothing to fear. Shettima is another Nigerian like me and you. Yes, we all don’t have to be Muslims or Christians. It is the will of God that this time around he is going to be vice president of this great country if we win the election. And we do hope and pray and we are working to win the election.”

On the chances of APC in the Osun election, he expressed confidence in the ability of the party to achieve success, saying: “By the grace of God, we will win. You heard it. Take it home, sleep over it today and on Saturday, come back and say Abdullahi Adamu, you are the son of your father.”

On the motive behind the visit to the president, the APC national chairman said: “First and foremost, it is to pay my courtesy in keeping with the tradition, which we were born into. And as chairman of the ruling party, the president’s party, where he is the leader of the party, it behoves on us in a moment like this to come, identify with our leadership and show example to those who are behind us, who are coming after us. So, that’s what it was and we are happy and each time we knock at his door, he opens his door for us. And that is exactly what happened today again.

“We were in Osun yesterday (Tuesday) and we had to give him some little report on what happened in Osun. And we also look forward to the election this Saturday and we have his buy in into our thoughts as to the election. That’s why we’re here.”

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Politics

2027: Donald Duke Pledges To Bring Petrol Price Down To N300 Per Litre

Published

3 hours ago

October 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Donald Duke

2027: Donald Duke Pledges To Bring Petrol Price Down To N300 Per Litre

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has pledged to work towards reducing the price of petrol to about N300 per litre if elected president in the 2027 presidential election.

Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, made the pledge during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he outlined his proposed approach to the petroleum sector and Nigeria’s wider economy.

The PRP candidate said petroleum products for domestic consumption should be priced based on the cost of production rather than being fully exposed to international market prices.

He proposed allocating about 600,000 barrels of crude oil per day for domestic consumption, while selling the remaining crude on the international market.

Asked what petrol could cost under his proposed administration, Duke said: “I will try and bring it to about N300.”

He acknowledged that the target could appear ambitious but maintained that his proposed crude allocation and domestic pricing model could make it achievable.

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Duke argued that fuel prices have a direct impact on transportation, businesses and household expenses, making affordable energy important to economic activity.

“Fuel drives your economy. It should be available. It should be affordable,” he said.

The former Cross River governor also indicated that he would pursue a different economic approach from the policies of President Bola Tinubu if elected.

His proposal comes amid continuing debate over petrol prices, fuel subsidy removal, domestic refining and crude oil allocation in Nigeria.

The N300 target is part of Duke’s proposed 2027 economic agenda and would depend on the implementation of the policies he has outlined if he wins the presidential election.

2027: Donald Duke Pledges To Bring Petrol Price Down To N300 Per Litre

Politics

2027: Obi Makes U-Turn, Vows to Restore Fuel Subsidy If Elected

Published

12 hours ago

October 7, 2026

Trends Admin

2027: Obi Makes U-Turn, Vows to Restore Fuel Subsidy If Elected

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said he would restore Nigeria’s petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, arguing that the major problem with the policy is the corruption surrounding its implementation.

Obi made the declaration during a recent interview with the BBC, where he was asked directly whether he would bring back the subsidy if elected.

“Yes. But remember, I have qualified it, not with the corruption that’s associated with it. I’ll remove the corruption and retain the subsidy,” he said.

The position marks a significant shift from comments Obi made in August, when he said the removal of fuel subsidy should not be reversed simply because proceeds from the policy were allegedly being mismanaged.

Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Obi said at the time that he supported subsidy removal but argued that the savings should be properly invested in healthcare, education and other productive sectors.

“I subscribe, and I maintain that you need to remove subsidy. Mismanagement of the proceeds should not be the reason for not removing it,” he had said.

Obi has now drawn a distinction between the subsidy itself and what he describes as the corruption associated with the scheme.

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“From day one, I’ve talked about subsidy. I talked about corruption; corruption is the problem of subsidy,” he told the BBC.

The latest position also comes shortly after his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, said an NDC administration would introduce fuel subsidy in its own way if the party wins the 2027 presidential election.

Kwankwaso had argued that the party would seek ways to make petrol more affordable while improving domestic refining and petroleum production.

The fuel subsidy debate has remained a major political and economic issue since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced its removal on May 29, 2023.

The decision caused petrol prices to rise sharply and has remained a contentious issue amid concerns over inflation, living costs and household purchasing power.

The Federal Government has continued to defend subsidy removal as a necessary economic reform, while opposition politicians have proposed different approaches to reducing the impact of petrol prices on Nigerians.

Obi also addressed the question of opposition unity ahead of the 2027 election, rejecting suggestions that he should step aside for another candidate if opposition parties eventually agree to a consensus candidate.

“We don’t need to step down. We need to do the right thing,” he said, arguing that opposition parties should focus on mobilising more voters.

On corruption, Obi said his approach would begin with his own conduct and that of his family. He also contrasted his proposed leadership style with that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he would exercise greater control over his administration if elected.

With the 2027 presidential election approaching, Obi’s renewed pledge to retain or restore fuel subsidy is expected to keep the policy at the centre of economic and political debates, particularly as parties present competing proposals on petrol pricing and the cost of living.

2027: Obi Makes U-Turn, Vows to Restore Fuel Subsidy If Elected

Politics

2027: Galadima Alleges APC Offering N50m, N200m to Lawmakers to Step Aside

Published

12 hours ago

October 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Buba Galadima

2027: Galadima Alleges APC Offering N50m, N200m to Lawmakers to Step Aside

Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is offering millions of naira and vehicles to some opposition politicians and lawmakers to withdraw from the 2027 elections.

Galadima made the allegation during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, claiming that the alleged financial inducements were part of efforts to reduce opposition competition ahead of the elections.

According to him, members of State Houses of Assembly who agree to step aside for APC candidates are allegedly being offered N50 million, while members of the House of Representatives are allegedly being promised N200 million and a vehicle.

“Every member of the House of Assembly who agrees to forfeit his ticket for the APC candidate is currently being given N50 million, and members of the House of Representatives will be given N200 million with a car,” Galadima alleged.

He further claimed that some politicians had already withdrawn from the 2027 race after allegedly receiving the financial incentives.

Galadima also alleged that a woman from Zamfara State was coordinating the purported distribution of the money from a hotel in Abuja.

“There’s a lady from Zamfara State who is sharing the money in a hotel here in Abuja,” he alleged.

He further claimed that the woman had recently met with APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, allegedly presenting the names of candidates who had withdrawn from the contest.

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Galadima alleged that some of the politicians had written resignation letters and collected the money.

However, he did not provide publicly verifiable evidence during the interview to independently establish the alleged payments, identify the lawmakers involved or confirm the purported distribution arrangement.

The allegations come amid increased political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, with politicians moving between opposition parties and the ruling APC.

In recent months, the APC has received politicians from opposition parties, including candidates who withdrew from some State House of Assembly contests before joining the ruling party.

Galadima presented the alleged financial inducements as part of what he described as a broader strategy to reduce competition against APC candidates.

He also alleged that President Bola Tinubu and APC governors were uncomfortable with facing strong opposition candidates and wanted to ensure that APC candidates encountered limited competition in some constituencies.

Those claims remain allegations by Galadima and have not been independently established.

The NDC chieftain has remained vocal about opposition efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In September, Galadima said he was part of a group of opposition politicians working under the coordination of former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Fayemi subsequently rejected the claim through his media team.

Galadima has also previously spoken about the NDC’s strategy for the 2027 election, including the party’s decision to zone its presidential ticket to the South.

The party has attracted prominent politicians, including former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, amid continuing political realignments ahead of the election.

Meanwhile, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has previously rejected suggestions that the party uses financial incentives to influence political movements, saying politicians who joined the APC did so voluntarily.

The APC and Yilwatda have not publicly responded specifically to Galadima’s latest allegations that money and vehicles are being offered to lawmakers to withdraw from the 2027 elections.

The claims are therefore expected to fuel further debate over political defections, electoral competition and campaign financing ahead of the 2027 polls.