The National Spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habeeb Saleh Mohammed, has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the upcoming 2027 presidential election does not offer the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) any genuine electoral advantage. Offering a critical assessment of the current political landscape, Mohammed went as far as to claim that Seyi Tinubu, the president's son, wields considerably more power and influence within the current administration than the Vice President himself.
Mohammed made these remarks during an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Sunday, which was arranged in reaction to President Tinubu’s official announcement confirming that Shettima would remain on the joint ticket for the next general election. According to the opposition spokesperson, the decision to maintain the status quo was not particularly surprising to keen political observers because the ruling party has simply chosen to follow an entirely predictable and familiar path.
The Kwankwasiyya spokesperson explained that while certain factions within the political space might have expected the President to search for a more formidable partner or find an individual capable of attracting a massive wave of fresh votes to the ticket, the opposition always knew the ruling party would stick to what they know. He argued that the electorate, particularly voters residing in the northern region of Nigeria, have already thoroughly assessed the performance of the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket based on their practical, everyday experiences under the current administration.
Reflecting on the previous election cycle, Mohammed pointed out that when the identical-faith ticket was initially introduced, a substantial number of individuals in the North defended the arrangement because it held a specific cultural or sentimental meaning for them. However, he emphasized that citizens have now witnessed the realities of that governance model firsthand, noting that Muslims themselves are currently rendering harsh judgments on the performance of the administration.
According to the spokesperson, the decision to retain Shettima speaks more to President Tinubu’s personal convenience than to a calculated, winning electoral strategy. He suggested that the President likely views the selection as an option that minimizes friction within the presidency, especially given the perceived power dynamics where the president's family members allegedly exercise greater authority than the second-in-command. Mohammed maintained that this dynamic will ultimately prevent the choice from acting as a major plus for the ruling party's chances at the upcoming polls.
Furthermore, Mohammed argued that religious sentiments will no longer serve as a deciding factor for the majority of Nigerian voters. He asserted that the identical-faith ticket deceived many northern voters during the previous election but ultimately resulted in widespread economic and social disappointment. Moving forward, he believes the electorate has realized that effective governance centers entirely on competence, sincerity, and concrete plans to solve national problems, irrespective of anyone's religious background.
In questioning the Vice President's tangible contributions over the past few years, Mohammed noted that many Nigerians find it difficult to point to a single significant impact made by Shettima, suggesting that the administration has largely limited his role to that of a public spokesperson who represents the government at various events rather than a core policymaker. He concluded by highlighting that critical challenges facing the North, including widespread insecurity and poverty, remain entirely unaddressed, leaving the electorate across the region feeling deeply disappointed with the administration's trajectory.
