Sunday June 22, 2025|

President Bola Tinubu is reportedly considering replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima with former Kano governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso in the 2027 presidential race.

This move, according to Business Day, is gaining support among some stakeholders within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The development may explain why APC national chairman Abdullahi Ganduje avoided endorsing Shettima during a recent party meeting in Gombe State.

It was learnt that discussions are ongoing to bring Kwankwaso back into the APC fold.

He has reportedly met with President Tinubu, and efforts are underway to get him to rejoin the party in time to strengthen Tinubu’s re-election chances.

Kwankwaso, who leads the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and controls Kano State politics through his Kwankwasiyya movement, is seen as a strong political force in the North.

With Kano being one of the largest voting blocs in the country, Tinubu’s team said his influence could be crucial in 2027.

In the 2023 elections, Kano recorded over 5.9 million registered voters, second only to Lagos.

Kwankwaso, who came fourth in the 2023 presidential election, is expected to help consolidate APC’s presence in Kano and across the North-West.

“Kwankwaso is being wooed to return to the party and has visited the President. But we need him to join early enough.

“He has what the President and our party need to ensure smooth re-election for President Bola Tinubu”, the source said.

Meanwhile, several political players in Northern Nigeria are working behind the scenes to take over the Vice President’s seat currently occupied by Kashim Shettima.

At least four governors from the North-East and North-West and two top lawmakers are believed to be positioning themselves for the role, as whispers grow within the All Progressives Congress (APC) about a possible change in the presidential ticket.

According to Punch, among those being quietly mentioned as possible replacements are the governors of Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna, and Katsina — Mai Mala Buni, Muhammadu Yahaya, Uba Sani, and Dikko Radda.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abass and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin are also seen as interested in the seat.