Politics

Why I endorsed Tinubu, omitted Shettima – APC Vice Chair

Published

11 months ago

June 17, 2025

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima

Why I endorsed Tinubu, omitted Shettima – APC Vice Chair

The National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mustapha Salihu, has responded to widespread criticism following his endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027 without mentioning Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Salihu made the controversial move during the recent APC North-East Stakeholders’ Summit held in Gombe State, which sparked outrage, particularly among supporters of the Vice President, who hails from the region.

Breaking his silence during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Monday night, Salihu claimed his remarks had been grossly misrepresented, especially by some media outlets. He explained that the intention behind the motion was not to sideline anyone but to galvanize support for the continuity of APC’s leadership at the federal level.

“I think this trouble is largely caused by the constant misinterpretation and ill-reporting by the media,” he said. “You should have played my speech fully or even read the last paragraph before the endorsement.”

According to Salihu, his endorsement of President Tinubu was preceded by commendations of the Vice President and other key appointments allocated to the North-East zone.

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“The last paragraph of my speech before the endorsement was eulogising the Vice President, even recognising him as our son, whom we are very proud of. We stand by him. I even mentioned all the ministers and other juicy appointments given to North-East indigenes, and thanked Asiwaju for that before calling for his endorsement as the sole candidate of the APC,” he explained.

Salihu, who narrowly escaped a violent mob attack during the summit, stressed that the APC’s internal nomination process allows only one presidential candidate to emerge during the primaries and the candidate would later has the constitutional right to select a running mate.

“There is no such thing as a joint ticket during party primaries,” he stated. “Only the presidential candidate emerges, and it is entirely his prerogative to choose a running mate after he becomes the flagbearer.”

While acknowledging that party leaders and stakeholders are often consulted, Salihu was firm in his position that the final decision on a running mate remains solely with the presidential candidate.

“Even though the party and stakeholders may be consulted, constitutionally, it is solely the candidate’s right,” he said.

Addressing the chaos in Gombe, Salihu denied any intentional omission of VP Shettima from his speech and dismissed allegations of an internal rift between President Tinubu and the Vice President.

“Some people thrive on creating tension. We call them ‘crisis entrepreneurs,’ they manipulate situations like this to create confusion and benefit from it,” he said.

He urged party members and the public not to be swayed by what he described as “conspiracy theories” and politically motivated narratives spreading online.

“Party business isn’t conducted on the platforms of social media or pages of newspapers. We operate through the party office. These rumours are simply not reflective of the reality within the party,” Salihu stated.

Why I endorsed Tinubu, omitted Shettima – APC Vice Chair

Politics

2027: Tinubu Aide Mocks NDC Over Missing Manifesto

Published

4 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga

2027: Tinubu Aide Mocks NDC Over Missing Manifesto

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alleging that the party lacks a clear governance blueprint and coherent agenda for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections. He described the NDC as “a camp for the politically displaced and desperate,” while questioning its preparedness to govern the country.

Onanuga also directed criticism at the party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, insisting that the party has not demonstrated any distinct ideological direction or policy framework capable of guiding national governance.

He said his assessment was based on a review of the party’s public materials, including its official website, which he claimed did not contain any substantive policy document outlining its vision for Nigeria. According to him, repeated attempts to access the party’s manifesto online were unsuccessful.

Onanuga stated that when he tried to download the party’s manifesto, the website returned a “No document found” message, despite indications that such documents were available for public access. He said this raised concerns about the party’s readiness for serious political engagement ahead of the 2027 elections.

He further noted that although the NDC has spoken about building an ideological alternative ahead of 2027, it has yet to publish a detailed manifesto since its reported registration earlier in the year. According to him, what is visible on the party’s platform are only broad policy statements presented as “pillars,” which he argued lack depth and substance.

The presidential aide also dismissed comparisons between the NDC and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying both parties appear to lack clearly defined policy identities that differentiate them from one another in the political space.

Onanuga’s comments come amid rising political activity and early alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, as opposition figures continue to explore new platforms and coalition arrangements.

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He linked the development to ongoing discussions involving prominent opposition politicians such as Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who have been associated with wider realignment talks following their movement away from previous political platforms.

However, these political associations remain part of broader speculation within Nigeria’s evolving opposition landscape as parties restructure ahead of the next election cycle.

Onanuga maintained that any party seeking to challenge the ruling government must present a detailed and credible manifesto that addresses key national challenges such as insecurity, inflation, unemployment and economic development.

He stressed that governance requires structured planning rather than political slogans, insisting that opposition parties must clearly articulate how they intend to improve the country if elected.

Despite his criticism, Onanuga said he expects the NDC to eventually release a comprehensive policy document that Nigerians can assess ahead of the 2027 elections.

As of the time of filing this report, the NDC has not issued an official response to the allegations or clarified the status of its manifesto.

2027: Tinubu Aide Mocks NDC Over Missing Manifesto

Politics

Atiku, Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen Obtain ADC Presidential Forms

Published

6 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi

Atiku, Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen Obtain ADC Presidential Forms

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen have officially secured presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, confirmed on Friday that the three aspirants had already obtained the forms as preparations intensify for the party’s presidential primary.

“Yes, the three of them — Atiku, Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen — have obtained the forms,” Abdullahi disclosed.

The ADC fixed the cost of its presidential expression of interest and nomination forms at N90 million, making it one of the most expensive presidential tickets ahead of the 2027 elections.

Hayatu-Deen officially signed and collected his forms on Friday from the party’s National Organising Secretary, Chinedu Idigo, while outlining his vision for the country if elected president.

In a statement issued shortly after obtaining the forms, Hayatu-Deen said the 2027 election must focus on restoring national security, reviving the economy, creating jobs and reducing the rising cost of living confronting millions of Nigerians.

“Nigerians are tired of living in fear. They are tired of watching businesses struggle, jobs disappear, and the cost of basic necessities rise beyond what ordinary people can afford,” he said.

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“This election cannot be about politics as usual. It must be about how to secure our communities, rebuild confidence in the economy, create jobs at scale and make life more affordable for millions of Nigerians.”

He further stressed that insecurity remains one of the biggest obstacles to economic growth in Nigeria.

“We cannot build prosperity in an atmosphere of fear and instability. Security is the foundation upon which every strong economy is built,” he added.

The emergence of Atiku and Amaechi in the ADC presidential race has generated fresh political attention due to their longstanding influence in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Atiku, who served as vice president between 1999 and 2007, was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in both the 2019 and 2023 general elections. He has remained active in opposition politics and has recently intensified consultations with political stakeholders amid coalition talks aimed at challenging the ruling APC in 2027.

Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and ex-chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, was one of the leading presidential aspirants of the APC during the party’s 2022 primary election won by President Bola Tinubu. Since leaving office as transportation minister, Amaechi has continued political consultations across several regions.

Political observers believe the entry of both politicians into the ADC presidential process could significantly reshape opposition politics ahead of the next election cycle, particularly if broader coalition discussions materialise.

The ADC recently gained increased visibility following reports that several opposition figures were considering the platform as a possible alliance vehicle ahead of 2027.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has already unveiled the timetable for the 2027 general elections.

According to INEC, presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

The electoral commission also stated that party primaries and resolution of internal disputes are expected to take place between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

The ADC said the sale of presidential expression of interest and nomination forms would run from May 6 to May 13 as aspirants continue consultations nationwide.

Atiku, Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen Obtain ADC Presidential Forms

Politics

Fresh Crisis Rocks APC Governors’ Forum As Uzodimma, Abiodun Camps Emerge

Published

6 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Dapo Abioduna and Hope Uzodimma

Fresh Crisis Rocks APC Governors’ Forum As Uzodimma, Abiodun Camps Emerge

A major leadership crisis has reportedly erupted within the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), exposing fresh cracks among governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.

The internal dispute has created rival power blocs within the influential governors’ forum, with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, insisting that he remains the authentic chairman of the PGF alongside Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, who is regarded as deputy chairman.

However, another faction has reportedly emerged within the forum, rallying around Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who are said to be coordinating the activities of a separate camp within the APC governors’ structure.

The development has heightened concerns over growing tensions within the ruling party as governors begin strategic consultations and alliance-building ahead of the next presidential election cycle.

Reports circulating across several political platforms indicated that the crisis escalated after an extraordinary meeting of APC governors held at the Ogun State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. Sources familiar with the meeting claimed that discussions centred on the leadership direction of the PGF, internal party influence and political strategy ahead of 2027.

The reports further alleged that some governors attempted to push for changes in the leadership structure of the forum, leading to claims that Uzodimma had been removed as chairman. However, there has been no official confirmation from the Progressive Governors Forum secretariat regarding any leadership change.

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Despite the controversy, Uzodimma continues to publicly operate as chairman of the forum and has remained visible in key APC activities involving governors and party leadership.

Political insiders said disagreements over succession politics, control of party structures and influence within the APC hierarchy are believed to be fueling the growing division among governors.

According to sources within the party, some governors have become uncomfortable with what they described as the increasing concentration of influence around Uzodimma, especially following his prominent involvement in major APC activities linked to President Bola Tinubu’s administration and preparations for future party conventions.

The situation became more politically sensitive after Uzodimma recently represented APC governors during the submission of President Tinubu’s presidential nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja — a development some observers interpreted as a signal of his strong standing within the party’s power structure.

The current division within the PGF also follows earlier internal adjustments within the APC’s national convention planning committee. Earlier in the year, Uzodimma had been appointed chairman of the party’s convention coordination committee before he was later replaced during a restructuring exercise by the APC leadership.

Analysts believe the emerging camps within the Progressive Governors Forum could significantly influence future political alignments within the APC, considering the strategic role governors play in determining party leadership, presidential primaries and internal negotiations.

The governors’ forum remains one of the most powerful blocs within the APC and has historically shaped major decisions affecting the ruling party since its formation in 2013.

As of the time of filing this report, neither faction has officially released a detailed statement explaining the exact cause of the rift or clarifying the current leadership structure of the forum.