Political tensions have emerged within ruling party circles as influential North Central stakeholders have reportedly called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider a new running mate for the 2027 presidential election, suggesting Vice President Kashim Shettima be replaced with a candidate from their geopolitical zone.
The development, which signals early political realignments ahead of the next general election cycle, came during a closed-door meeting held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, where prominent political figures, traditional rulers, and business leaders from the North Central gathered to discuss the region’s political future.
KIIN360 investigations reveal that the stakeholders based their position on what they described as historical marginalization of the North Central in Nigeria’s power-sharing arrangements. Sources present at the meeting disclosed that participants emphasized the region’s consistent electoral support for the ruling party despite limited representation in top leadership positions.
Chief Solomon Dalung, spokesman for the North Central Political Forum who addressed journalists after the meeting, stated: “Our region has consistently delivered critical votes in national elections yet remains underrepresented in the highest echelons of government.
As 2027 approaches, we believe the time has come for the North Central to occupy the vice presidential position as recognition of our unwavering loyalty and significant electoral contributions.
Political analysts note that this development reflects growing regional competition for positioning ahead of the next electoral cycle. Dr. Mahmood Aliyu of the Centre for Democracy and Development observed: “These early maneuvers indicate the commencement of intense negotiations within party structures. The North Central’s demand represents typical political bargaining that characterizes Nigeria’s complex federal arrangements.”
The stakeholders reportedly formed a high-powered delegation scheduled to meet with President Tinubu in the coming weeks to formally present their position. Their memorandum allegedly highlights electoral statistics from recent elections demonstrating the region’s voting patterns and contributions to the ruling party’s previous victories.
Palace sources from traditional institutions across the region confirmed royal fathers’ involvement in the deliberations, though they maintained publicly neutral positions given their non-partisan constitutional roles.
Neither the Presidency nor Vice President Shettima’s office has responded to these developments. Party officials contacted by KIIN360 described the demands as “premature political discussions” given that the current administration has yet to reach its midterm.
Political observers suggest these early moves indicate an unusually early start to election positioning, reflecting the high stakes and intense regional competition that characterize Nigerian presidential politics.
Constitutional lawyer Barrister Ahmed Tijani noted: “While stakeholders have every right to express their preferences, the ultimate decision on running mates remains the presidential candidate’s prerogative, typically influenced by electoral mathematics, party dynamics, and governance considerations.”
As political realignments continue taking shape across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, this development signals what many predict will be an intensely negotiated pre-election period leading up to 2027.
