A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Director of Finance at the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election has strengthened the party’s support base across Northern Nigeria.
In a statement he personally signed on Saturday, Kwankwaso said the decision had boosted the confidence of APC members and supporters in the region following the submission of the Tinubu-Shettima nomination forms to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja.
According to him, retaining Shettima has also disappointed those who expected the President to replace the Vice President ahead of the 2027 election.
“President Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima is the best development for the North and the APC. It has further united the region and strengthened the party’s chances ahead of the 2027 elections,” he said.
Kwankwaso praised Shettima for what he described as his efforts to promote unity in Northern Nigeria and his support for the policies of the Tinubu administration.
“We have seen how Vice President Kashim Shettima has worked tirelessly to promote unity in the North despite attempts by some individuals to create division. He has also represented President Tinubu creditably at various international engagements,” he said.
The APC chieftain expressed confidence that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket would receive massive support from Northern voters during the 2027 general election.
He added that the decision would not only improve the party’s chances in the presidential race but also strengthen APC candidates contesting governorship, National Assembly and other elective positions across the region.
“Retaining Shettima is a strategic decision that will further consolidate the APC’s support base in the North and enhance the party’s electoral prospects at all levels,” Kwankwaso added.
