Shettima Says APC’s Internal Divisions Worry Him More Than Atiku, Obi

Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed concern over internal divisions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying they pose a greater threat to the party’s electoral prospects in 2027 than opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

Shettima made the remarks on Saturday in Abuja during the unveiling of the campaign headquarters of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a northern coalition supporting the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice president, alongside the inauguration of the group’s campaign structure.

The Vice President said the APC must address its internal disagreements and strengthen unity among its members to secure victory in the forthcoming general elections.

He declared that he was not particularly worried about the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or what he described as the diminished political standing of Peter Obi, but was more concerned about contradictions within the ruling party.

Shettima urged party members to work together, stressing that unity within the APC was essential to achieving its political objectives.

He also cautioned northern political leaders against prioritising the presidential election while undermining APC governors in their respective states, insisting that the party’s success at the national level must go hand in hand with victories in state and legislative elections.

According to him, party members should rally behind their governors, National Assembly members and President Tinubu to ensure a successful outing in the next elections.

Shettima expressed confidence in the North’s support for the President, claiming that the region had demonstrated its political preference across several states.

He urged APC members to intensify their preparations, noting that the elections were approaching and the party needed to seek renewed public confidence while acknowledging the challenges that remained.

Addressing the party’s contest with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Shettima challenged APC members to work towards defeating him while maintaining respect for their political opponents.

He further highlighted the APC’s organisational strength, citing the party’s claimed 361,045 officials across its structures against 176,845 polling units nationwide.

According to him, the figures demonstrate the party’s capacity to mobilise its members and establish a strong presence across polling units during the elections.

The Vice President also emphasised the importance of grassroots politics, saying political appointees must demonstrate their influence and performance in their polling units, wards and local government areas.

He disclosed that he had asked the Borno State governor to compile a list of political appointees from the state, from the local government level upwards, to assess their contributions to the party’s electoral strength.

On the APC’s position in the North, Shettima claimed that 18 of the region’s 19 states were controlled by the ruling party. He also said 15 of the 18 NNPP members representing Kano State in the House of Representatives had defected to the APC, adding that the state governor was also aligned with the ruling party.

Despite his confidence in the party’s political prospects, the Vice President acknowledged the economic difficulties confronting many Nigerian households.

He said the struggles of families trying to meet their basic needs should remind the government of the work that remains to be done, warning against relying solely on applause rather than honest assessments of the administration’s performance.

Defending Tinubu’s economic policies, Shettima said the President inherited a fragile economy, citing foreign reserves of $3.9 billion and more than ₦27 trillion in Ways and Means obligations when he assumed office.

He argued that the administration’s interventions had helped avert an economic collapse and claimed that Nigeria’s foreign reserves had risen to approximately $58.9 billion.

Shettima assured northern Nigerians that they had nothing to fear from a second Tinubu administration, insisting that the President remained committed to the region’s interests.

Speaking at the event, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, moved a motion endorsing Tinubu’s re-election bid, expressing confidence that the North would once again provide substantial support for the President.

Yilwatda highlighted federal infrastructure projects in the region, particularly the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Kano-Maiduguri highways, which he said were significant investments in northern Nigeria.

Meanwhile, former Jigawa State governor and Director-General of A4A, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, announced that the coalition’s campaign headquarters was located at No. 4 Port Harcourt Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.

Badaru described the facility as the biggest campaign office in the country, saying it symbolised the coalition’s commitment to mobilising support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

He added that A4A would pursue a disciplined, peaceful and issue-based campaign, taking its message to markets, farms, campuses, mosques, churches and other communities across the country.