2027 Bombshell: Presidency Breaks Silence on When Tinubu Will Unveil Running Mate

Amid growing speculation and public discourse regarding Vice President Kashim Shettima’s future in the lead-up to the 2027 elections, the Presidency has clarified that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not yet made a decision on his running mate for the upcoming election.

This clarification was made by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in an interview with Daily Trust.

Addressing concerns raised over Shettima’s absence from recent endorsement events promoting Tinubu’s second-term ambition, Onanuga emphasized that discussions around a running mate are premature. He stressed that in a presidential system, the candidate is selected first before naming a vice-presidential candidate — a process followed during President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaigns.

“When I saw the reports, I dismissed them outright,” Onanuga stated. “In a presidential system, the presidential candidate comes first. Once INEC releases its timetable, the party will hold its convention. If the president is nominated again, he will decide on his running mate then.”

He also rejected assumptions that Tinubu’s past decisions as Lagos State governor — where he replaced two deputies — suggest a likelihood of dropping Shettima. According to him, each replacement was due to specific political circumstances and should not be interpreted as a pattern.

“During his time as governor, yes, there were disagreements. Kofo left due to incompatibility. Pedro, her replacement, defected because he wanted to be governor. These were context-driven decisions, not a consistent pattern,” Onanuga explained.

He further dismissed claims of a rift between Tinubu and Shettima as baseless gossip, stating there is no evidence of tension between the president and his vice.

“To my knowledge, they have a great working relationship,” he said. “The speculation is just idle talk. People even spread absurd claims like Seyi Tinubu being vice president—pure nonsense.”

Asked whether the Muslim-Muslim ticket would return in 2027, Onanuga said the concern had faded, noting that the fears surrounding religious bias have been largely proven unfounded.

“Nigerian Christians are living freely. President Tinubu even attended the Pope’s event in Rome. Many of the names being speculated as running mates are Muslims, but this isn’t a pressing issue anymore,” he noted.

Regarding the wave of endorsements Tinubu has been receiving, despite INEC not declaring the official campaign period open, Onanuga said the support is a necessary response to opposition attacks.

“These endorsements didn’t happen in a vacuum. If opposition figures hadn’t begun attacking the Tinubu administration, the APC wouldn’t have responded this early,” he said. “But we can’t afford to appear idle while others openly strategize against us.”

He concluded by reaffirming the administration’s appreciation for the endorsements and public support, suggesting it signals the ruling party’s readiness for the political battles ahead.