The Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, saying replacing him would have disrupted the stability of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at a critical political moment.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said the President’s decision was driven by confidence in a trusted deputy whose loyalty, experience and performance have helped sustain the administration since it assumed office in May 2023.

Writing in a commentary titled “2027: Tinubu-Shettima and the Politics of Loyalty, Capacity, Continuity,” Nkwocha argued that retaining Shettima had put an end to months of speculation over the vice president’s political future while reaffirming the partnership that secured the APC’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.

According to him, replacing the Vice President would have unsettled the party’s internal dynamics and created avoidable uncertainty within the APC, while providing the opposition with an opportunity to exploit perceived divisions in the administration.

“By retaining Vice President Shettima, President Tinubu has done more than fill a space on the ballot. He has quelled a major source of needless political anxiety within the ruling party, shut down months of speculation over the Vice President’s place on the ticket, and reaffirmed the partnership that led the APC to victory in 2023,” he wrote.

Nkwocha said Shettima had earned the President’s confidence through disciplined service, steadfast loyalty and the successful execution of key national assignments.

He cited the Vice President’s role as Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC), where he has led deliberations involving the Federal Government and state governors on major policy issues, including economic reforms, food security, agriculture, infrastructure, digital innovation, nutrition and sub-national development.

He argued that Shettima has consistently defended the administration’s policies while remaining firmly within the constitutional responsibilities of his office, describing him as a dependable deputy who has strengthened cohesion within the Tinubu administration.

The presidential aide also revisited the controversy surrounding the APC’s same-faith ticket in the 2023 election, insisting that the decision was anchored on competence, governance experience and political strategy rather than religious considerations.

According to him, retaining Shettima gives the President the advantage of working with a deputy who is already familiar with the administration’s policy priorities, governance objectives and political landscape, eliminating the risks associated with introducing a new running mate ahead of a re-election campaign.

Nkwocha further noted that Shettima’s experience as a former governor of Borno State during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, as well as his service in the Senate, has strengthened his political credentials and reinforced the APC’s support base across northern Nigeria.

He maintained that the President’s decision also sends a reassuring message to party faithful that loyalty, consistency and performance are recognised and rewarded.

While expressing optimism about the APC’s prospects, Nkwocha cautioned that retaining the Vice President alone would not guarantee victory in the 2027 general election.

“The retention of Shettima gives the ruling party a stronger platform, but it does not remove the need to persuade voters with evidence of delivery,” he said.

He added that with the composition of the presidential ticket now settled, the focus should shift from political speculation to the administration’s performance and its ability to translate ongoing reforms into tangible benefits for Nigerians.

Nkwocha concluded that Tinubu’s decision reflected a preference for continuity over uncertainty, preserving a partnership that has endured political pressure, economic reforms and the demands of governance while positioning the APC for the 2027 electoral contest. (Saturday Guardian)