The All Progressives Congress (APC) has explained why Vice President Kashim Shettima was not endorsed alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mustapha Salihu, the National Vice Chairman (Northeast) of the party, offered clarity on the matter during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, following the APC North-East stakeholders’ summit held on Sunday in Gombe.
Addressing concerns over the omission of Shettima’s name during the public declaration of support for President Tinubu’s re-election, Salihu stated that his decision was guided by both party tradition and constitutional structure.
“In my full speech—the last paragraph before the endorsement—I eulogised Kashim Shettima, recognising him as our son and expressing that we stand by him as people of the North-East,” he said.
“I also appreciated the national security adviser as our son, whom we are proud of, and acknowledged all the ministers and parastatals given to Northeast indigenes, thanking Asiwaju [Tinubu] for that, before calling for the endorsement of him as the sole presidential candidate,” he added.
According to Salihu, endorsements at this stage of the electoral cycle are only extended to presidential aspirants, as vice-presidential nominations are not determined until after party primaries.
“In party politics, we have only one ticket at the primary stage—for the executive chairman, local government chairman, governors, and president,” he explained.
“There is no provision in our constitution that allows for the endorsement of a joint ticket at that level.
“It is only after the primaries, when a candidate emerges, that he chooses a running mate.
“That choice remains the constitutional prerogative of the presidential candidate, even though consultations may occur,” he noted.
