ADC: Obi Will “Walk Out” After Atiku Secures Presidential Ticket

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January 21, 2026

Former vice President Atiku Abubakar is certain to get the presidential ticket of the ADC if the party decides to conduct a primary to pick its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

A former Political Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed made the assertion on Tuesday while speaking on channels Television Politics Today.

In the event that this happened, the new opposition party will face implosion, as many members will move away from the party, Baba- Ahmed said.

Baba-Ahmed who served the Tinubu government under the Office of Vice president Kassim Shettima, before he resigned last year, disclosed that other presidential hopeful in the ADC will be forced to leave the party as they will not be able to accept Abubakar’s victory as the party’s candidate.

According to him, Peter Obi, one of the presidential aspirants in the party has noted that his target is to get the sole ticket. If he loses to Abubakar in a Convention, Obi will leave the party, Baba-Ahmed said.

An Abubakar’s ADC candidature will also force other leaders and members of the party to leave, he stressed.

“If ADC goes to convention, and it certainly will, because that’s what former Vice-President Atiku wants, he will get the ticket,” Baba-Ahmed said.

“And then, a lot of people will walk out because a lot of people are in that party only for the same thing. They want the ticket.

“One of the reasons Peter Obi is saying, ‘Look at me, I’m not here for number two, I’m not here for convention, I’m here to fly the flag,’ is that he has people who were initially whispering politely to him,” he said.

“But now they are saying, ‘Join the queue. You’re not the only one with ambition here.”

He explained that Obi joined the ADC for the ticket, and will not accept anything short of that.

“Peter Obi doesn’t do convention. He just goes there to be anointed,” he said.

“So, the ADC will bleed after its convention because almost certainly former Vice-President Atiku will win the ticket, and when he does, some people will walk out, it will be severely damaged.”

In spite of the pressure being mounted on Abubakar to step down, he has insisted that he would not do so, a situation that’s currently causing confusion in the party ahead the next presidential election in less than two years.

Nollywood Actress, Sarah Martins Slumps, Hospitalised

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Akinwale Kasali

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January 20, 2026

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By Akinwale Kasali

If not for the timely medical attention she received after collapsing, the nation’s Movie Industry, popular as Nollywood, would have lost one of its finest actress.

Sarah Martins, popular Nollywood Actress reportedly collapsed in her home.

She was said to have been hurriedly rushed to the hospital, saving a looming disaster.

It was gathered that the Medical Officers at the Facility swung into action, reviving her and bringing her back to life.

She was stabilized afte which series of tests were done to ascertain what led to her sudden collapse.

Hours after the incident, the Actress took to her Instagram Page to appreciate God Almighty for preserving her and saving her life from the shackles of death.

She wrote on her page informing her fans of her health conditions.

She wrote: “Woke up today and couldn’t feel any part of my body. For a second, I felt lifeless. I still struggled and went to my stores to do inventory and a few interviews for incoming employees, and that was when I slumped.”

“All through December, I worked every single day, and even when my staff travelled for the season’s celebration, I still kept working. No days off, no stretches, no nothing… just a walking corps working tirelessly to cater for others, forgetting myself.

“I did over 32 tests today, and all came out negative, including cancer, fibroid, liver, kidney, malaria, typhoid, etc. I guess God took proper care of my organs while I neglected my body.

“I am typing this from a sick bed, but I will be fine because the God that protects the vulnerable kids I struggle for will never fail me.

“They said I’m extremely exhausted and need proper bed rest. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your constant protection over my life”, she wrote.

Three Dead, Others Trapped As Two-storey Building Collapses In Ondo

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Ayodele Oni

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January 20, 2026

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Two-storey Building Collapses In Ondo — The Collapsed Building.

By Ayodele Oni

Three dead bodies have been pulled out from the debris of a two-storey building, which collapsed in Akure, Ondo state capital on Tuesday.

Many construction workers that were on site were trapped while others sustained varying degrees of injuries after the two-storey building under construction, collapsed along the busy Oyemekun Road in Akure.

As at the time of filing this report, rescue workers from various government agencies were on site to ensure rescue of more people .

It was gathered that the workers were on site carrying out construction work when the building suddenly caved in at about 3:30 p.m.

Following the collapse, sympathisers and passers-by reportedly trooped to the scene to assist in rescuing those trapped beneath the rubble, as emergency response efforts commenced.

Rescue operations were still ongoing, while relevant authorities were expected to provide further details.

Opral Benson’s Family Worries About How She Got To Liberia, Prays For Safe Arrival Back To Lagos

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Adesina Soyooye

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January 20, 2026

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By Adesina Soyooye

The family of Mrs Opral Benson, the Iya Oge of Lagos, which a few days ago, raised an alarm over her whereabouts has now confirmed that the 90 year-old is safe.

The Family, in a statement on January 15, had declared her missing, emphasising that nobody had seen her in the past 48 hours. Part of the statement read: “The family reports that Mama Opral Benson has been missing since Tuesday, January 13, 2026. She has NOT RETURNED HOME and her current whereabouts are UNKNOWN.

“Anyone who has SEEN HER, or has ANY INFORMATION, no matter how small, is urged to CONTACT IMMEDIATELY: O803 703 9214.

“Alternatively, please, report to the nearest Police Station.

“THIS IS TIME SENSITIVE”

However, on Tuesday, January 20, the family, in a statement signed by her daughter, Bimbo, on its behalf said Mrs Benson has been tracked to Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, her home country, and that she is safe, even though she does not know how she got to that country, a country she left in 1962 for Nigeria when she married the late former Federal Minister, TOS Benson. When Bimbo spoke to on the phone on Sunday, she was not aware of her whereabouts, and insisted that she was in her Ikoyi home.

In the angry, strongly-worded statement, the family said Mrs Benson has no living sibling, and had not visited Liberia in the past 10 years. It took exception that anybody could ferry the Iya Oge of Lagos from Nigeria to Liberia without the knowledge of any of her family members in Nigeria.

The statement reads:

“Dear Friends,

Re: My Mum

“I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to all of you who joined hands in tracking and tracing the whereabouts of Mama. She is reported to be in Liberia—a country she left in 1962 to become a Nigerian.

“I spoke with Mama today, Sunday, 18 January, at 11:18 a.m. She is well and hearty; however, she is unaware that she is in Monrovia, Liberia; she responded her location to be Ikoyi, Lagos.

“The transportation of Mama out of Nigeria without the knowledge of her Family is deeply troubling and should be frowned upon by all daughters who model respect and care for their mothers.

“This act of disregard, impunity, and irresponsibility is, therefore, frowned upon.

“Mama’s siblings are all deceased, and as such, she has not visited Liberia in over 10 years.

“In keeping with our Nigerian culture of deference to elders, a culture Mama has imbibed for the past 65 years “awon omo inu wan”, and all those desirous of meeting and greeting Mama are urged to visit her in Nigeria and not place her at unnecessary risk.

“Nigeria and Liberia share long-standing bilateral relations founded on mutual respect. Both Nations uphold Mama with pride and dignity. This is evident in her over 25 traditional Chieftaincy Titles and most recently, the conferment of the Grand Commander of the order of the Star of Africa a top tier honor conferred on her by the President of Liberia, Joseph Boakai during the occasion of her 90th birthday in Lagos last year.

“Opportunists parading and surrounding her are hereby urged to immediately withdraw and desist from their pursuits.

“As stated in Isaiah 46:4, God promises to carry His people even into their grey hairs—a time of continued divine support.

“We kindly ask that you keep Mama in your prayers for her safe and timely return to us.

“God Bless and Allah

Guide.

Bimbo.”

Interior Minister Condemns Prolonged Delay In Passport Processing

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Ayodele Oni

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January 20, 2026

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By Ayodele Oni

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has expressed dissatisfaction with delays encountered by applicants for passports at the various offices of the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS).

The Minister made an unannounced visit to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) passport office in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Tuesday, where he criticized officials, saying it is unacceptable the waste of applicants’ time through prolonged delays.

The Minister confronted staff over excessive waiting periods faced by citizens seeking passport services.

A viral video captured the moment the Minister was questioning officials about service delivery bottlenecks, highlighting his frustration with persistent delays despite previous directives for improvement.

Tunji-Ojo expressed strong disapproval, stating that such inefficiencies “don’t make sense” and amount to “wasting people’s time.”

He emphasized that government services must prioritize citizen convenience and efficiency, aligning with ongoing reforms in the passport issuance process.

The surprise tour enabled the Minister to directly observe operations, interact with workers, and assess challenges on the ground.

The visit comes amid the Ministry’s broader push for modernization, including the planned rollout of the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) in January 2026, upgrades to passport personalization centers capable of producing thousands of documents rapidly, and efforts to reduce processing times significantly—targets that include potential seven-day delivery for standard applications through centralized systems and automation.

Applicants at the facility welcomed the Minister’s intervention, with many expressing hope that such direct oversight would lead to faster resolutions and better service.

NIS officials have not yet issued a formal response to the Minister’s remarks, but the incident is expected to prompt immediate internal reviews and corrective measures.

Six Dead, 35 Rescued As Passenger Boat Capsizes Along Buruku River, In Benue State

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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January 20, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Benue State Government said it has launched a full scale investigation to unravel the remote and immediate circumstances surrounding a tragic boat mishap at the Buruku River crossing in Buruku Local Council of the State.

No fewer than six persons have been confirmed dead and over 35 others rescued following the capsize of a wooden boat late on Monday night,January 18, 2026.

Most of the passengers on board were said to be students returning to school in Gboko and other nearby communities after the break.

Local witness accounts informed that the tragic incident occurred at about 11 pm, while the boat was enroute to the Buruku Local Council.

Although no official reasons have been adduced by the relevant authorities, but there are strong indications that the boat which was said to be carrying over 45 persons, as well as vehicles, may have capsized owing to overloading.

“The boat, as you know, is a wooden one ,and it was carrying passengers and seven vehicles across the river to Buruku when it suddenly capsized.

“There were over 45 people on that boat , including vehicles .It was simply overload.

” So far about 35 passengers have been rescued alive , while six deaths have been confirmed ., with others still missing.

” Most of the victims were students returning to school in Gboko and nearby communities . This is very unfortunate,but could have been avoided” a local source volunteered .

The Benue state Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy ,Denis Iyaghigba in a statement issued by his spokesperson Lubem Gena while expressing shock and grave concern, however decried the tendency for people to embark on unsafe and unregulated inland water journeys .

The Commissioner stated that the investigation will seek to establish the level of compliance and or violations of safety regulations , operational negligence ,or the involvement of environmental factors in the mishap.

This is as he assured that all relevant authorities have been fully mobilized to intensify rescue operations .

” We are committed to accounting for all passengers ,and conducting a thorough , transparent and uncompromising.investigstion, with appropriate sanctions against any individuals or operators found culpable”, Iyaghigba added.

Court Says Anyanwu No Longer Nat. Secretary Of PDP

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Ayodele Oni

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January 20, 2026

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By Ayodele Oni

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has dismissed the case filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu seeking to retain himself in office as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025 -Sen. Samuel Anyanwu vs. INEC & Ors, Justice M. G. Umar dismissed Anyanwu ‘s claims regarding his right to the office of the National Secretary of the party.

Anyanwu had approached the court seeking an Order of injunction restraining his removal from office, following a previous Supreme Court judgment that held that his stay in office is an internal affair of the Party.

He had sought to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or acting upon any documents or correspondence from the PDP that did not bear his signature.

The case underwent several procedural shifts, including being transferred from suspended Justice Inyang Ekwo to Justice M. G. Umar.

The court observed that Sen. Samuel Anyanwu was elected as National Secretary of the party in 2021 and cannot continue in office after the expiration of the term he was elected.

The court reaffirmed that the Nigerian judiciary consistently maintains that matters concerning the internal leadership and administration of a political party are non-justiciable.

This principle, reinforced by recent Supreme Court precedents, dictates that courts should not interfere in how political parties choose their officers.

The court noted the existence of multiple parallel litigations over the same subject matter across various levels of the judiciary, including High Courts, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.

Anyanwu was among the high-ranking members expelled from the party during the Ibadan National Convention in November 2025.

Ekiti Gov. Election: INEC Raises Hope Of Parties Without Candidates In Final List

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Ayodele Oni

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January 20, 2026

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By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that Monday’s list of candidates and their deputies for the Ekiti governorship election was final.

However, any political party whose candidate’s name is missing can still be added if there is a Court judgement to that effect.

In the list signed by INEC National Commissioner, Rose Oraran-Anthony, name of the flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) elected during the party’s Congress last year Wole Oluyede was missing.

Names of the 12 political parties which will feature in the contest were listed in the latest list.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, made the clarification on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ engagement held at the INEC state office.

The REC cautioned political parties and their candidates participating in the Ekiti State governorship election to strictly adhere to electoral laws and conduct themselves responsibly to sustain the peaceful atmosphere ahead of the June 20, 2026 poll.

The meeting brought together representatives of political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations, traditional rulers and other key stakeholders.

Omoseyindemi urged political parties to conduct issue-based campaigns as the official campaign period begins on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

He advised them to demonstrate maturity by shunning hate speech, inciting statements, personal attacks and the spread of misinformation capable of undermining the electoral process.

According to him, while INEC recognises the constitutional right of political parties and candidates to campaign freely, such rights must be exercised within the confines of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Campaigns.

The REC further warned against violence, intimidation and the disruption of opponents’ lawful campaign activities, stressing that parties must strictly adhere to approved venues, routes and campaign timelines.

He noted that any violation of the guidelines would attract appropriate sanctions as provided by the law.

Omoseyindemi also enjoined political parties to properly notify security agencies and relevant authorities ahead of rallies and other campaign activities to ensure adequate security and public order, reaffirming INEC’s commitment to peaceful campaigns that would culminate in a credible election and sustained stability in Ekiti State.

He equally charged journalists covering the election to uphold professionalism, fairness and ethical standards in the discharge of their duties.

Leadership Crisis Rocks Ondo Factional ADC

By

Ayodele Oni

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January 20, 2026

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By Ayodele Oni

The leadership crisis in the Ondo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) deepened on Tuesday, as Olaide Rasheed Ibraheem, declared that he remains the authentic State Chairman of the party.

He has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the national leadership to correct constitutional breaches and demanded his immediate reinstatement.

Ibraheem alleged that on November 28, 2024, he was removed from office by the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Raphael Nwosu, in what he described as an embarrassing and unceremonious manner.

The national leadership of ADC constitutionally recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is Led by former Senate President, David Mark.

Addressing journalists in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Ibraheem explained that he emerged as ADC State Chairman through a duly conducted state congress held on October 7, 2020, with security agencies in attendance and without rancour.

He added that since his assumption into office, no other state congress has been conducted in Ondo State.

The ADC Chairman further disclosed that he solely financed the party’s activities in the state, noting that there were no political office holders or subvention to support the party during his tenure.

According to him, the affairs of the party were conducted strictly in line with ADC constitution.

He insisted that the action was unconstitutional and violated the principle of party supremacy as provided in Article 2 of the party’s constitution.

The ADC Chairman further argued that the ADC constitution does not empower the National Chairman to remove a duly elected state chairman, accusing Nwosu of acting ultra vires by unilaterally dissolving state and local government executives without due process or recourse to the party’s constitution.

The Chairman stated that he delayed making the issue public in the hope that well-meaning elders of the party would persuade the National Chairman to reverse what he termed a grave mistake, noting that no corrective step has been taken.

He also accused the party’s national leadership of ignoring Article 18 of the constitution by failing to convene any congress before taking actions capable of throwing the Ondo State chapter into crisis.

Ibraheem warned that failure to reinstate him, alongside the state and local government executives removed in November 2024, within 14 days, would compel the affected leaders to take further steps to seek redress.

He called on the national leadership of the ADC to urgently take corrective measures to restore constitutional order and prevent an internal impasse within the Ondo State chapter of the party.

OPINION: The Importance Of Kashim Shettima

By

James Orji

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January 20, 2026

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By Reuben Abati

There is a potentially disruptive speculation, a kite being flown in political conversations, which could affect the fortunes of the ruling party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the relationship between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, as Nigerians begin the dress rehearsal towards the 2027 general election. It is the whisper, in quiet and low tones, that there is a plan afoot to drop Senator Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate in 2027.

It will be recalled that in June 2025, at a meeting of the APC north-east stakeholders, party leaders, including the national vice chairman (north-east), Mustapha Salihu, and the then APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, while endorsing President Tinubu for a second term, had notably failed to mention the name of his deputy, Senator Kashim Shettima. This prompted instant riotous behaviour on the part of the delegates from Borno state, who reacted by bringing the meeting to an abrupt end. They threw chairs and threatened physical assault on perceived enemies of Shettima.

They chanted: “No Shettima, No APC in the North East.” Whereas the party at the national level tried to offer an explanation, Shettima’s supporters took the development as a deliberate sign of disrespect to the man who is the highest-ranking politician from the region. They could not be pacified by the excuse that it is the prerogative of the president to announce his own running mate.

The truth is that the office of the vice-president is a creation of Section 141 of the 1999 Constitution. It is further true that he or she is nominated by the president and the validity of the president’s own nomination rests on his choice of a vice-president, making the presidency a joint ticket. The constitution, however, does not specify the identity of such a person except for the general provisions which apply to the president in Sections 137 – 140. For persons who have taken politics as a vocation in Nigeria, most of them have no second address by the way, every gesture, every word is taken as a signal. Before the Gombe incident, Shettima’s name was also omitted during the APC National Summit at the Presidential Villa in May 2025. Those who printed campaign posters at the time to promote President Tinubu’s candidacy omitted Shettima’s name and picture.

The permutations and speculations, rather than disappear, have intensified. Only yesterday, the speaker of the Borno state house of assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, raised an alarm over the exclusion of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s picture on the banner portraying party leaders in the region. North-east governors and APC stakeholders are currently in Maiduguri, Borno state capital, for the north-east public hearing on the constitutional amendment. Maiduguri is the vice-president’s main base. He was the governor of Borno state for eight years (2011 – 2019). Yet someone has the effrontery to put up banners which have the images of the president, the five APC governors of the north-east, and the national legal adviser, deliberately leaving out the vice-president. Meanwhile, the Concerned Northern APC Youth Forum has cautioned President Tinubu against tampering with the current APC presidential ticket. “We started this journey together, and we intend to finish it together…”, the forum declared in a statement issued in Kano. Similarly, the president of the APC Youth Parliament, Kabiru Garba Kobi, speaking to journalists in Bauchi yesterday, said, “any attempt to replace Senator Kashim Shettima would amount to a grave political miscalculation that could cost President Tinubu massive support in the north, especially the north-east.”

Those flying the kite, in an auto-suggestive fashion since last year, have even suggested possible replacements. The initial list comprised Hon. Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, whose choice it was said would address the backlash over the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP 2023 Presidential candidate and a chieftain of Kano politics, a major vote bloc, Professor Baba Gana Zulum, Governor of Borno State, on the basis of his popularity and the fact that he is from exactly the same state as Shettima. The scramble for Shettima’s job has since reached high fever pitch with the involvement of the United States in the politics of religion in Nigeria. Trump, the self-appointed defender of Christians in Nigeria, threatened on October 31, 2025, that he would storm Nigeria “guns a-blazing” to rescue Nigerian Christians from reported genocide and persecution. On December 25, 2025, President Trump sent Nigerians a Christmas gift by firing Tomahawk missiles into Sokoto state, on the basis of intelligence, per New York Times, purportedly provided by an Igbo screwdriver merchant in Onitsha market, determined to screw down Nigeria. This attribution of the source of intelligence for the assault on Sokoto, the original base of the Caliphate, the home of the leader of the Muslim faithful in Nigeria, is enough to screw up Nigeria.

The triumphalism of a section of the Nigerian Christian elite has only deepened tensions, birthing the renewed impression and agitation that the only way forward for Nigeria is for the country to show that it is not against Christians in the country in order to pacify Trump, the self-styled commander-in-chief of the world. When President Tinubu tinkered with the Muslim-Muslim arrangement in the leadership of the ministry of defence, with the replacement of the former minister of defence, Badaru Abubakar, with General Christopher Musa, the political fortune watchers of Nigeria concluded that the president would do the same with the presidential ticket towards 2027. Their main reason is that Trump will not accept a Muslim-Muslim ticket. But why should Trump dictate to Nigeria? Where are the people who voted for a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023? Where is the sovereignty of Nigeria? The very suggestion that it is President Trump, not Nigerians, who will determine the political process in Nigeria in 2027 is a defeatist, slavish expression.

It is worse that, in a robotic fashion, the people flying kites in the village square like children have now revised their list of possible Shettima replacements to include only Christians, namely: Hon. Yakubu Dogara (his name is still on their list), minister of defence, General Christopher Musa, Plateau state Governor Caleb Mutfwang, and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah. They insist that nobody should be surprised if President Tinubu decides to drop Shettima, given his own antecedents. As governor of Lagos state, President Tinubu had three deputy governors in eight years: Mrs Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, who resigned in protest, Mr Femi Pedro, who has now been recently rehabilitated with a marginal ambassadorial nomination, and Chief Abiodun Ogunleye, who quietly completed the remainder of Pedro’s tenure in 2007. It is not certain that President Tinubu will adopt the same tactics in Abuja. Nigerian politics is far more complex and different from the containerised, localised politics of Lagos state. It is for this reason that I share the view of former presidential adviser and elder statesman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, when he said in July 2025 that President Tinubu should have personally debunked the stories about his plans to drop the vice-president for someone else. Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, dismissed the subject as “a non-issue”. Baba-Ahmed argued that the president’s silence can only fuel uncertainty and political tension. He cannot be more correct.

It would indeed be a big miscalculation to attempt to displace Vice President Kashim Shettima. He has been a very loyal, humble and hardworking deputy. If he were some other person, he would have been noisy and loud about whatever he may consider unfair treatment. He has, however, been quiet, dutiful and not made any attempt to upstage his boss. Besides, he is a competent powerhouse with strong intellectual abilities. He has strong credentials: a former governor and a former senator. President Tinubu already has about 28 governors in his pocket, along with the structures in the states. If this is so certain as it seems, then changing his running mate ahead of 2027 would amount to a distraction that could upset current calculations for the APC. It is not just that the entire north-east would turn against the president, the emergence of a Christian in place of Shettima will turn the tables and the Muslim north, already agitated by the narrative of being anti-Christian, against the president. There is no point in changing a winning ticket. Vice President Shettima is of greater political value than all the persons being proposed as likely replacements. Dogara, Mutfwang, Christopher Musa and Bishop Kukah are from minority groups in the north. How many votes can they bring to the table? Politics is not about sentiments. It is a hard-nose exercise in pragmatism. President Tinubu cannot afford to gamble with northern votes. Sustaining the Tinubu-Shettima ticket conveys an image of stability, continuity and confidence.

And it is not true that President Trump is in a position to dictate the religious outlook of the Nigerian Presidency. The well-worn story about the protection of Nigerian Christians is at best a cover story for America’s strategic interest. What does the United States stand to gain from having a Christian Vice President or President in Nigeria? The fact that the Christian community is represented in Aso Villa does not translate into any special advantage for a Christian. The politics of proximity has its limits. It is not proven that having a kinsman or a person of the same religious persuasion or gender in power confers any special privileges. The long-term objective in Nigeria should be to have in power and office at all levels persons who believe in the country, who are competent and patriotic, not ethnic or religious gladiators. In 2027, there should be alternative tickets: Christian-Muslim, Muslim-Christian, Christian- Animist, Atheist-Freethinker and the people’s right to choose should be respected. But President Tinubu does not need to set his own house on fire. The hidden campaigners for an APC Christian Vice President cannot offer a causal link between having a Muslim as Vice President and the alleged persecution of Christians. Vice President Shettima is a liberal, anti-tribal political leader. Why punish him for his chosen faith when he has done nothing wrong. He is protected under Section 42: the right to freedom from discrimination. Even if his faith is not the issue, those Muslims who are eyeing his seat and seeking to unseat him are only being mischievously ambitious, not that they have anything special to offer. President Tinubu should rescue his Vice President from the harassment and mental torture of having to hear every day that other persons want his job. His contributions and loyalty should not be discounted.

The hustle, however, is enabled by the fact that the Nigerian Constitution makes the position of the Vice President and Deputy Governors dependent on the kindness of the President. The Presidency and the Governorship positions are otherwise described as joint tickets, but in reality, the Deputies are appendages that can be discarded by a powerful principal, who has the legislature on his side, or the freedom to choose whoever he wants in the event of a second term in office. The APC Youth Forum was perhaps right to have declared that “We started this journey together, and we intend to finish it together…”. Tinubu and Shettima should finish it together. The Constitution, for future purposes, should conceive of the Presidency and the Governorship positions as a Siamese-twins arrangement. Otherwise, those who seek to cause friction would always have their way. In 2014, ahead of the 2015 Presidential election, one of the loudest whispers in the corridors of Aso Villa was the speculation that President Jonathan was going to drop his Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo in the second term race.

The rumour mongers were so certain that they said they had seen the speech President Jonathan was going to read to declare his interest in the 2015 presidential election, and that Vice President Sambo’s name was not there. The president found no need to respond to the speculations, but when he declared his intention to contest for a second term on November 11, 2014, he named Vice President Sambo as his running mate. It was a Christian-Muslim ticket at the time, and the circumstances were different. The choice of a running mate was not even such an issue, but it is this time around, especially with the United States’ interest in Nigeria’s religious politics, and that is why President Tinubu should douse the tension early, and not succumb to the antics of blackmailers and opportunists weaponising religion within the APC. He chose Senator Shettima in 2022. He should be courageous and principled enough to stand by his choice in 2026.

Abati, a former Presidential Adviser, is a public affairs analyst