Fresh Trouble For Tinubu As Some APC Governors Reject Shettima As Running Mate, Plan To Meet Buhari

The decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu to pick Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate is reportedly causing fresh division among party stakeholders and leaders.

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Particularly, that some APC Governors who worked for the emergence of Tinubu as the party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer are said to be dissatisfied with the emergence of Shettima.

They claimed according to sources familiar with the party’s internal workings that the announcement is different from the agreement they had and is a sign of arrogance on the part of Tinubu.

It will be recalled that Tinubu on Sunday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, announced the choice of former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima as his running mate.

However, the Governors are said to be unhappy with the way Shettima was chosen and announced without carrying them along and have therefore resolved to meet with President Buhari on Tuesday to make their grievances known before taking further action according to Arise TV.

The Governors and some other stakeholders view the choice of Shettima as a political miscalculation which could harm the party’s chances in the 2023 election because of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

They feel there are other candidates with better electoral value even from the same region that could have been chosen instead of Shettima.

The fact that the Tinubu/Shettima ticket throws up an imbalanced religious ticket further makes him less appealing to the aggrieved Governors and other stakeholders within the party.

In the wake of dissentments trailing the choice of Shettima, Naija News earlier reported that a chieftain of the APC, Daniel Bwala has already announced his resignation from the party.

Bwala in a post on his Twitter account on Sunday noted that he is dumping the ruling party on principles and convictions that he holds so dear.

He further stated that at this point what Nigeria needs is for us to work towards uniting the country.

The APC chieftain wrote, “Tonight I officially resigned my membership of @OfficialAPCNg on principles and conviction that I hold so dear. At this time of our national existence, our efforts and energy should gravitate towards uniting our people.

“Asiwaju has announced Kashim Shettima as his running mate. Kwankwaso is planning to announce a Pentecostal bishop as his running mate. Interesting times lie ahead.”

Also, sources claimed Senator Ishaku Abbo from Adamawa State, has allegedly resigned from all Tinubu’s campaign groups over the choice of Shettima which is regarded as insensitive to the religious plurality of Nigeria.