Presidency Reveals When Tinubu Will Pick His 2027 Running Mate

President Bola Tinubu will select his running mate for the 2027 election only after the next convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Speaking in an interview with *Daily Trust*, Onanuga addressed speculation that Vice President Kashim Shettima might be dropped ahead of the next election cycle, saying there is no basis for the rumours.

The controversy emerged after an APC stakeholders summit in Gombe, where Tinubu was endorsed for a second term, but Shettima’s name was noticeably left out of the endorsement. The omission triggered a stir among delegates and fueled speculation about a possible rift between the two leaders.

Onanuga dismissed the concerns as premature and unfounded. He clarified that, in line with the presidential system, a party must first nominate its candidate before a running mate is selected. “That’s what happened under Buhari; he was nominated first and later picked his running mate. You don’t do both at once,” he explained. He added that Tinubu’s decision on a running mate would come after the APC convention and once the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releases the election timetable.

Addressing rumours of tension between Tinubu and Shettima, Onanuga described the claims as “beer parlour gossip,” stressing that the two leaders enjoy a strong working relationship. “I’m not aware of any issues between the president and the vice president. From what I know, they have an excellent working relationship,” he said.

He also responded to speculation that Tinubu may have a history of sidelining his deputies, citing his time as Lagos governor. Onanuga acknowledged that Tinubu had differences with former deputies during his governorship, but insisted the situations were driven by specific political circumstances and not a consistent pattern. “In his first term, he and his deputy, Kofo, didn’t get along, and she had to leave. Femi Pedro replaced her. In the second term, he retained Pedro, but Pedro later defected — he wanted to be governor. That’s why he had to go,” Onanuga said.

He concluded by rejecting attempts to draw parallels between Tinubu’s past and current relationships with his deputies, saying such comparisons are speculative and fail to reflect the reality of his administration’s internal dynamics.