Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians in the northern region to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing the president’s previous support for prominent northern political figures and his administration’s development initiatives.
Shettima made the appeal on Saturday during the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna State. He urged northern voters to reciprocate Tinubu’s political support over the years.
The vice president recalled Tinubu’s political relationships with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Nuhu Ribadu, and former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Shettima, Tinubu supported Atiku when he faced difficulties within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), helping him secure a political platform to contest the 2007 presidential election.
He also noted that Tinubu backed Ribadu’s presidential ambition in 2011 and supported Buhari during the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections.
Shettima argued that these past political alliances demonstrated Tinubu’s longstanding relationship with northern leaders, adding that the region should consider this history when making its decision in the 2027 election.
Beyond political relationships, the vice president highlighted several infrastructure projects the federal government is pursuing, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, Kano-Maradi Railway, Lagos-Kano rail corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road and Sokoto-Badagry Highway.
He also pointed to investments in education in Kaduna State, mentioning the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, the Federal University of Education in Zaria, and vocational training institutions in Rigachikun, Soba and Samaru Kataf.
Shettima said the vocational institutions had produced more than 4,000 graduates. He further highlighted federal student loan programmes, which he said had helped expand access to higher education for many students.
The vice president also commended Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for promoting peace, unity and inclusive development, noting efforts to improve relationships among communities with different ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Shettima maintained that the APC administration had demonstrated its commitment to northern Nigeria through investments in infrastructure, education and economic development. He urged voters to consider these initiatives alongside Tinubu’s political record ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
