The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has reiterated its unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 presidential election, rejecting calls for Shettima’s replacement. The calls, made by the North-Central Renaissance Movement, have urged Tinubu to choose a running mate from the North-Central region in exchange for their support in the upcoming election.

In a statement released by the Forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the group made it clear that these demands do not reflect the stance of the APC stakeholders in the North-Central zone. The Forum reaffirmed its full endorsement of both Tinubu and Shettima, emphasizing that their initial backing of the President also extends to the Vice President.

Strong Endorsement of Tinubu-Shettima Partnership

The North-Central APC Forum expressed satisfaction with Vice President Shettima’s performance and praised the strong, collaborative relationship between him and President Tinubu. The Forum argued that this partnership has contributed positively to the successes of the administration and dismissed the calls for Shettima’s replacement as being driven by opposition forces seeking to create divisions within the APC.

“We urge President Tinubu to ignore the distractions of those attempting to disrupt his administration,” Zazzaga stated. “We are pleased with the role Vice President Kashim Shettima has played, and we commend the solid working relationship between the two leaders.”

Commitment to Deliver Six Million Votes for Tinubu

The Forum reaffirmed its commitment to delivering six million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 election, a promise initially made in December 2024. They highlighted key political appointments, such as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and several ministerial positions, as evidence of the administration’s support for the North-Central region.

The Forum also acknowledged the region’s ministers, including those heading the Ministry of Justice (Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, from Kwara), the Ministry of Information and National Orientation (Mohammed Idris from Niger), and the Ministry of Women Affairs (Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim from Nasarawa), and welcomed ongoing infrastructure projects. They called for continued development opportunities in the region.

Positive Assessment of Tinubu’s Administration

The North-Central APC Forum expressed approval of President Tinubu’s leadership, citing significant achievements in economic recovery, security, and infrastructure development. Key successes include the strengthening of the Naira, improvements in oil production, and an increase in foreign reserves. The Forum also commended the administration’s efforts to eliminate fuel shortages, expecting this to eventually lower petroleum prices and reduce inflation.

After reviewing the President’s policies, the Forum concluded that Tinubu has made notable progress in addressing economic and security challenges and deserves a second term to continue driving these reforms.

A Call for National Support

In conclusion, the North-Central APC Forum called on all Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s reelection bid. “We stand firmly behind President Bola Tinubu, as his leadership has brought significant progress to our region, and we believe he is the best candidate to continue leading Nigeria toward greater prosperity,” the statement read.

The Forum assured that, just as they supported Tinubu in 2023, they will work tirelessly to secure his reelection in 2027.