APC North East meeting: ‘Only Tinubu can choose his running mate’
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Mustapha Salihu, the National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asserted that only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the constitutional right to choose his running mate for the 2027 presidential election. Salihu made this known during an interview on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television.
Responding to speculations surrounding the selection of a running mate and recent political tensions, Salihu emphasised that the party does not produce a joint ticket during its primaries. He stated that while the APC elects a presidential flag bearer through its primaries, the choice of a vice-presidential candidate is strictly the prerogative of the presidential candidate. According to him, this process is guided by the Nigerian Constitution and past political tradition.
“It is the prerogative of the presidential candidate to choose his running mate. While consultations might happen within the party, the decision rests with the candidate after he emerges as flag bearer,” Salihu explained.
His clarification follows public reactions to a speech he delivered at a stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe, where he was accused of deliberately omitting the name of Vice President Kashim Shettima. The meeting ended in chaos, with Salihu reportedly being chased out by angry party supporters. Addressing the incident, he said the misunderstanding stemmed from misinformation and political mischief.
Salihu clarified that contrary to reports, he did mention Shettima during his speech, describing the Vice President as the pride of the North-East. “In the last paragraph of my speech, I said Kashim Shettima is our son and that we, from the North-East, are fully behind him,” he said.
He condemned the actions of what he described as “crisis entrepreneurs” within the party who thrive on stirring internal conflicts. Salihu urged APC members to ignore unfounded rumours and insisted that party affairs are not decided on social media but through the proper internal mechanisms.
