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WHO can tell exactly how Kashim Shettima has been feeling since last week following his renomination by President Tinubu as his Vice Presidential candidate for the 2027 election and the submission of the joint APC presidential ticket to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) on July 10, 2026? Undoubtedly, VP Shettima must be relishing this moment. He must be feeling so relieved, in high spirits and joyful emotion when president Tinubu on July 16, formally presented him with his official certificate of nomination. That, of course, has ended speculations that he might be dropped as the president’s running mate in the upcoming election.
For the records, July 10 must be remarkable for Shettima’s political career as Vice President to President Tinubu. Recall that on July 10, 2022, Tinubu as presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the 2023 election officially unveiled former Borno state Governor Sen. Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 election. There must be some fine qualities he saw in him to be fully qualified to be Vice President. The announcement of July 10, 2022, was made following a close door meeting with then President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina state.
Ten days later, exactly on July 20, 2022, Shettima was officially presented to the party(APC) at a colourful event at Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. With that done, Senator Shettima replaced the initial ‘placeholder’ Ibrahim Masari. In his remarks, Tinubu listed the basic criteria, the qualities that made Shettima an excellent choice as Vice President. His words: “I I know much has been said and written about my decision to pick Shettima to partner me on this journey. As a committed and progressive leader, I have read and listened to all that had been written and said. It has been an emotional situation for me. Out of many competent Nigerians, and out of many advice, I know it has to be my decision. And the hallmark of leadership is taking a decision at the right time when it ought to be taken”.
With his eyes on party chieftains gathered at the Yar’Adua Centre that rarefied evening, Tinubu added, “I consulted widely, and I am proud to see all of you here acknowledging the quality of our vice president”. Four years have come full circle since President Tinubu began “this journey” with Shettima as his Vice President. Another journey has indeed started, for the second time, in the same presidential ticket with Shettima. By reaffirming Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, the President has put an end to avalanche of months of political speculation regarding the composition of the ticket.
With the decision taken, President Tinubu recognises the fact, to borrow the words of former American President, Gerald Ford that,”the Presidency and the Vice Presidency are not prizes to be won but a duty to be done”. The basic criteria for choosing Shettima four years ago remain almost the same in 2026: he is fully qualified to be Vice President; he shares the same political philosophy with Tinubu, he is competent, possessing leadership credentials. Finally, Shettima is someone with whom Tinubu feels comfortable with. And in the interest of party harmony, Shettima is acceptable to majority of the party chieftains across the six geopolitical zones.
Taken together, Shettima is also smart and principled. His loyalty – both to the party and to the President – cannot be questioned. Despite few criticism, especially from the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), Tinubu continues to strongly defend his choice of Shettima, saying he has gotten the right qualities in him to move Nigeria forward. Unquestionably, Shettima’s loyalty to the party, and to his boss is rated very high. That loyalty is growing even stronger. President Tinubu has consistently mentioned that the VP is reliable and capable of helping him drive his “Renewed Hope” agenda forward.
According to those privy to the decision, Tinubu categorically stated that he did not make his choice to please any religion or region, but rather, has prioritized capacity, talent and teamwork. And during the final renomination, presidential aides have reaffirmed Tinubu’s confidence in Shettima, citing him as someone he’s well pleased, a dependable and committed partner in his administration. That’s for many reasons. It’s in recognition of what Shettima brings to Tinubu presidency. Besides complementing the president’s background by acting as a bridge-builder across Nigeria’s diverse political landscape and spearheading several key federal initiatives, VP Shettima brings a wealth of Executive, legislative and private sector experience to President Tinubu’s government.
His primary credentials for the Vice President include his 8 years as Governor of Borno state(same as Tinubu in Lagos state), his time in the Senate(representing Borno Central), and a distinguished career in the banking sector. His over a decade as a high-ranking banker and Manager at Zenith Bank, has provided him with a strong foundation in economic and financial management. Before this, his tenure as Governor(2011-2019) was pivotal. During this time, he navigated immense security challenges, while prioritising physical and social infrastructure delivery. His time in the 9th Nigerian Senate (2019-2023) was equally remarkable.
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Of geat importance to his name was the bill he sponsored on national security, geospatial regulation and Criminal Code amendment. Another great asset of Shettima to the Tinubu presidency is his detribalised outlook. This is evident in the appointments in his office. This is another area he complements his boss for good measure. One would have expected his staff to be dominated by his Kanuri people, or others from the North East, his home region.
For example, out of the 18 Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Vice president, every geopolitical zone is represented. His aide on Media Communication Stanley Nkwocha and Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, his SSA on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement are from the South East. That’s the kind of leadership Nigeria needs. In many things that history will judge Shettima kindly, it’s his refusal to be assailed by the occupational difficulties faced by many vice presidents.
Consider this: Thomas Marshall served as VP when Woodrow Wilson was President of the United States from 1913-1921. Anticipating the nature of the difficulties confronting people in that position, in 1920, he compared the vice president to a cataleptic:”he cannot speak; he cannot move; he suffers no pain; yet he is perfectly conscious of everything that is going on about him”. But rather than being undone by these difficulties, Shettima follows the advice of American industrialist and business magnate Henry Ford, who said, “… keeping together is progress, working together is success”.
It’s a thoughtful decision to achieve political stability. It’s rooted in administrative continuity and purposeful governance. It’s also about trust, loyalty and shared commitment to Nigeria’s progress. As far as Tinubu-Shettima ticket is concerned, as one cliché says,”if you sit at the feet of an older man, you will absorb his knowledge”. It’s a technique that serves Shettima well. No matter the pressure, Shettima remains calm, always ready for all kinds of assignments given to him by his boss. He knows he’s in that position by the grace and decision of his master, and he as the apprentice.
Shettima is not under any illusion of who the ‘master’ is in a presidential ticket. Tinubu is. Therefore, if you serve the master well, he will teach you the skills and the secrets of his trade. In return, Shettima has given the full measure of his talent, attention, loyalty and respect. History has also taught him never try to outshine the master because the president won’t share the major tasks of the office with his vice president. That’s the unwritten rule in every democracy. One is inclined to believe that Shettima is wary of the behaviour of a former vice president who tried to undercut his master and how that mand hasn’t recovered from the alleged betrayal.
To his credit, President Tinubu didn’t pay much attention to sustained agitation by some political interests, both from Shettima’s home state, and from within and outside the presidency and APC that he(Shettima) wanted to harm his boss so that he could take over as president. Such rumours could be very disturbing, especially when you are serving to the best of your abilities. Credit should go to the President for not believing the rumour mill, but trusting his veepee, giving him assignments abroad that the Commander in Chief can only entrust to an able lieutenant.
In that connection, Shettima made history as the first Nigerian vice president to address the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA), where he represented the country’s interest in global security, climate change and foreign partnership. He also acquitted himself when he represented Nigeria at the BRICS Summit in South Africa late in 2023, as well as the African Union(AU) meeting. Right now, he is in Lungi, Sierra Leone attending the 69th ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit. These are diplomatic engagements that only a versatile politician with character can do. The weight of a good name matters.
Altogether, the decision of president Tinubu to retain him as his running mate for his second term means a lot. It’s choosing continuity over uncertainty, experience over needless speculation, and national interest over politics of convenience. I think the renomination of Shettima as VP is a strategic move ahead of the 2027 that could brighten the President’s re-election, regardless of the Muslim-Muslim ticket controversy. With the pollsters predicting a tight race between President Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the decision may provide a unity of purpose for the ruling APC going into the crucial January 16 presidential election.
