Politics of Friday, 4 July 2025

Source: www.legit.ng

2027: List of top 3 northern politicians Tinubu may choose to as running mate

President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima

President Bola Tinubu has a rumoured chance of dropping Vice-President Kashim Shettima in his political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

This comes amid the news of opposition leaders reportedly gathering to form a coalition against him ahead of the poll.

Tinubu, in his political strategies to secure his chances in the 2027 election, may be on the lookout for a running mate who would pull larger votes in the 2027 presidential election, to boost his chances against the opposition, particularly the coalition movement.

In the scheme of things, the president may choose between these three northern politicians who have the potential to pull votes for him in the next general elections.

Below are the three northern politicians who may work with Tinubu as vice president.

Kashim Shettima

Shettima is the current vice-president and may still retain his position in the next general election. Although there has been a rumour of a rift between him and Tinubu, the presidency has consistently denied any tension between the two political giants.

Titilope Anifowoshe, a legal practitioner, in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, posited that the vice-president has shown loyalty over the period that he and the president have worked together.

"Vice President Shettima has demonstrated loyalty and competence, and he has proven to be a steady partner in governance. There is no compelling reason to fix what isn’t broken."

Abdulaziz Yari

The former governor of Zamfara State may also be on the list to become the next vice-president of Nigeria. He is an influential politician who commands the crowd in his state.

Yari, who is currently representing Zamfara West, made a statement when he contested for the Senate President against Godswill Akpabio in 2023.

Thus, picking him as vice-president means that many senators would be willing to work for Tinubu's second term in office.

Rabiu Kwankwaso

Kwankwaso, a presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, made a statement during the poll by sweeping votes in Kano.

He not only defeated the APC in the state, but his party won the governorship, senatorial and many of the assembly seats.

Tinubu, having Kwankwaso on his side, means he could secure millions of votes from Kano and some parts of other northern states. The politician has consistently noted that he and the president remain friends irrespective of their political affiliations and differences.