Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed concern that internal friction within the ruling All Progressives Congress poses a greater challenge to its political prospects than opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking on Saturday in Abuja during the unveiling of the campaign headquarters for Arewa for Asiwaju, a northern coalition supporting the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, the Vice President urged members to remain united. He stated directly: “Honestly, I am not afraid of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. I am not afraid of a diminished Peter Obi. But I am more afraid of internal contradictions within our household. If we unite as a people, as a family, we will conquer.” He also cautioned party figures against undermining elected governors during gubernatorial contests while campaigning for the presidency, adding that political appointees must demonstrate their strength by delivering results in their respective polling units and wards.
Addressing the party’s election readiness, Shettima noted that the poll is close and that citizens will return to the voting booths in under 100 days. He pointed out that the APC possesses an extensive grassroots structure, with 361,045 officials spanning ward and local government levels capable of overseeing Nigeria’s 176,845 polling units. On the political landscape in Northern Nigeria, he stated that 18 out of 19 states are aligned with the APC, adding that 15 of the 18 New Nigeria Peoples Party members in the House of Representatives from Kano have defected to the ruling party, alongside the governor. Regarding political rival Atiku Abubakar, Shettima instructed party loyalists to focus on performance and defeat him respectfully at the polls.
Defending the administration’s economic record, the Vice President acknowledged the financial hardships facing many Nigerian households, reassuring the public that President Bola Tinubu remains dedicated to the region’s interests. He explained that the President inherited an economy on the verge of collapse, with foreign reserves standing at just 3.9 billion dollars and Ways and Means expenditure exceeding N27 trillion. According to Shettima, economic interventions have since restored stability, pushing Nigeria’s foreign reserves to approximately 58.9 billion dollars for the first time in nearly 18 years.
The event also featured contributions from key party leaders, including APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who moved a motion affirming support for President Tinubu’s second term, citing major infrastructural projects across Northern Nigeria such as the over 900-kilometre Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Kano-Maiduguri road projects. Additionally, the Director General of Arewa for Asiwaju and former Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, officially unveiled the coalition’s new campaign headquarters at No. 4 Port Harcourt Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja. Describing it as the largest campaign office in the country, Badaru affirmed that the group will execute a disciplined, peaceful, and issue-driven outreach campaign across all communities, campuses, and places of worship.
