North Central Vs Shettima: APC Finally Speaks On The Vice Presidential Drama For 2027

These speculations have surfaced amid heightened political activity from Tinubu’s loyalists and key party members, who have started mobilizing support for a possible second term, even though the President has yet to officially declare his re-election bid.

Speaking to Daily Trust, APC National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, described the rumors as “baseless” and “mere speculation,” urging people not to take them seriously. He called the discussions “beer-parlour talks” and clarified that any decision to replace the vice president would require extensive consultation with critical stakeholders, rather than being made unilaterally by the president.

North Central Stakeholders Advocate for Zoning

Amidst the controversy, political leaders from Nigeria’s North Central region have renewed their call for either the presidency or vice-presidency in the 2027 elections. Representatives from Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kogi, and Kwara states gathered in Abuja, led by Prof. Nghargbu K’tso, to advocate for political inclusion.

In a communiqué released after the meeting, they urged major political parties to allocate the presidential or vice-presidential tickets to the North Central region. They argued that if the APC grants President Tinubu the “right of first refusal” for the presidency, the vice-presidency should automatically be zoned to North Central.

Prof. Nghargbu emphasized that since the return of democracy in 1999, North Central has not produced a democratically elected president or vice president, making it one of the two regions (alongside the South East) excluded from top political positions in the past 26 years.

“This is about fairness. We seek recognition as full stakeholders in the ‘One North’ project, not just as political adjuncts,” he asserted.

APC Rejects North Central’s Zoning Request

However, APC spokesperson Bala Ibrahim dismissed the North Central’s demand as “unrealistic” and “dead on arrival,” arguing that the region’s relatively lower electoral contribution compared to the North West undermines its claim.

He also criticized previous similar demands as “irrational” and politically disruptive, adding that discussions about zoning should not commence while President Tinubu is still in his first term. According to Ibrahim, the presidency should be allowed to serve two terms before any zoning considerations are made.