2027: Tinubu Will Only Choose His Running Mate After Emerging as Candidate, Presidency

Tinubu and Shetimma

The presidency has stated that President Bola Tinubu can only choose his running mate after the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention, during which the party’s presidential candidate will emerge ,not before.

Reacting to speculation that President Tinubu may drop Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, clarified that the president’s decision on a running mate for the 2027 election will be made public only after the APC convention in 2026.

Reports had suggested that the president is considering selecting a different running mate in the lead-up to the polls.

Describing such reports as baseless, Onanuga emphasized that a presidential candidate must first emerge before any discussion of a running mate can take place.

“That’s what happened under Buhari,he was nominated first and later picked his running mate. You don’t do both at once,” “Once INEC releases the timetable, the party convention will hold, and if the president is nominated again, he will choose his running mate.”Onanuga said.

He also dismissed claims of a rift between the president and the vice president.

According to Onanuga, when Tinubu was governor of Lagos State, he changed his deputy governors twice.

However, he argued it is incorrect to suggest that there is a consistent pattern of discarding deputies.

“So, it’s wrong to say he has a pattern of discarding deputies. There were specific political circumstances each time. That’s what I’m explaining,” he said.