Amid rising speculations over the future of Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 presidential ticket, APC leader and former lawmaker Hon. Farouk Adamu has dismissed talks of a rift within the ruling party.
In an exclusive interview with Pinnacle Daily, Hon. Adamu said there is no division between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima and that any decision about the next running mate will come only after party primaries.
Hon. Adamu waved off the controversy about concerns that Vice President Shettima may be dropped in 2027 and the comment made by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, who is also chairman of the North East Governors Forum, that they may reconsider their support if Shettima is not retained.
“When I said they are putting sand in our garri, this is what I meant. They are bringing chaos.”
According to Hon. Farouk, President Tinubu has never shown any sign of disapproval towards Shettima. “Politicians will always be politicians,” he said. “There are people who were not happy with Shettima’s nomination from day one. They are still trying.”
READ ALSO: Whispers of Defiance: Is the Tinubu-Shettima Ticket Still Intact?
Hon. Adamu cited a recent interview with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Shettima’s political godfather, who failed to praise the Vice President’s performance when asked. “Those are the kinds of political actions people notice,” he noted.
“Yes, we are concerned as a party,” he admitted. “But we haven’t reached the point where we are deciding on running mates yet. The president chose Shettima by himself in 2023. He consulted no one except Buhari in Daura.”
Hon. Adamu recalled how President Tinubu, after seeking Buhari’s opinion, was told, “Go and take anybody you can work with.” It was after that visit that Tinubu announced Shettima as his running mate.
“So, it was his own decision. Nobody told the president to pick a Muslim. He did that himself,” Hon. Farouk said.
He added that all talk of removing Shettima before the primaries is premature. “Most likely, Shettima will continue as VP. But even if there’s a change, it will be the president’s or party’s decision,” he said. “This time, there may be wider consultation, but I don’t think President Tinubu will change it.”
He also said initial fears over the Muslim-Muslim ticket have now faded. “Even the Christians who were angry at first are now saying they didn’t expect it to be this fair. I think we’ve crossed that bridge.”
Hon. Farouk on Religious Balance and Fairness in Appointments
When asked to explain what he meant by “fairness”, especially with claims that more federal appointments are going to the South, Hon. Adamu said such sentiments always exist in Nigeria, regardless of which region is in power.
He added that “Even in Buhari’s zone, people complained,” he said. “No matter where appointments go, some people will always say it’s unfair.”
He urged Nigerians to focus less on region and religion and more on who gets the job done.
“Was Nigeria better for Muslims when Buhari was in power?” he asked. “Was it better for Christians under Jonathan? Insecurity doesn’t know tribe or religion.”
According to him, identity politics is part of what is holding Nigeria back.
“We should concentrate on who delivers, whether they are Christian, Muslim, Northerner or Southerner,” he said. “A good leader is what matters, not their religion.”
Hon. Adamu further stressed that the issue of whether Shettima remains Tinubu’s running mate will be decided later, after party primaries, and should not be used to create division.
“Let’s focus on performance, not propaganda,” he said. “The future of this country will not change because a Christian or Muslim is in charge. It will only change if the leader is good.”
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
