Amid growing speculation surrounding the 2027 presidential race, the Presidency has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not announce his running mate until after securing the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket at the party’s convention scheduled for 2026.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dismissed recent reports suggesting an imminent running mate announcement, clarifying the standard procedure under Nigeria’s presidential system.
“In a presidential system, the candidate emerges first before selecting a running mate. That’s exactly what happened during President Buhari’s time he was nominated before picking his deputy. It’s not something done simultaneously,” Onanuga said.
He added that the selection of a running mate would follow due process after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releases the 2027 election timetable and the APC holds its convention.
With the APC yet to formally declare President Tinubu as its 2027 flagbearer, insiders indicate that internal consultations remain ongoing. Political groups and regional stakeholders have been lobbying vigorously, fueling debates about the possible zoning of the vice-presidential slot.
In a related development, tensions flared over the weekend during the APC North East stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe State, where Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the party’s National Chairman, was reportedly targeted by a group of unruly individuals.
Chief Oliver Okpala, Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment to Ganduje, condemned the incident in a statement on Monday, describing the act as a “threat to democratic values and internal party unity.”
“There’s no room for violence in Nigeria’s political arena. Party members must embrace political decorum and civil engagement,” Okpala emphasized.
As the countdown to 2027 continues, all eyes are now on the APC’s 2026 convention, which will formally set the stage for Tinubu’s potential re-election bid and his choice of running mate.
