Vice-President Kashim Shettima has criticised opposition politicians seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections, questioning their ability to govern Nigeria when they struggle to maintain unity within their own political parties.
Shettima made the remarks on Wednesday during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“Meanwhile, those offering to rescue Nigeria cannot keep their own political households intact,” he said, defending the ruling party’s political coalition and questioning the opposition’s capacity to manage the country’s diverse interests.
The vice president challenged opposition figures to show they could reconcile competing interests within their parties before seeking to lead a country of more than 200 million people.
“So I ask, if reconciling a few party leaders defeats you, how will you reconcile the interests of over 200 million citizens?” he said.
The vice-president also described the political contest ahead of the 2027 elections as an opportunity for Nigerians to assess the competence, character and policy positions of those seeking the presidency.
He urged members of the campaign council to focus on organisation, persuasion and measurable results rather than trading insults with political opponents.
“Every committee of the Presidential Campaign Council must earn its place through hard work, every community must hear our case, and every grievance must receive a patient hearing,” he said.
Shettima Defends Tinubu’s reforms
Shettima defended the economic policies introduced by the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system.
He said the president inherited an economy facing severe fiscal challenges and argued that the reforms required difficult decisions that previous administrations had avoided.
“President Bola Tinubu inherited immense expectations on an economy approaching fiscal catastrophe. He confronted the subsidy burden and the currency distortion that rewarded access above enterprise,” he said.
According to the vice-president, the administration had resisted the temptation to prioritise immediate popularity over long-term economic stability.
He argued that Tinubu had been willing to make politically difficult decisions to protect the country’s economic prospects and create a foundation for future growth.
Shettima cited economic growth and rising external reserves as evidence of progress, stating that the economy grew by 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026 and that gross external reserves had exceeded $58 billion.
He acknowledged, however, that the government needed to translate the gains into tangible improvements in Nigerians’ lives.
“The next is to turn these gains into jobs, affordable food, and dependable services. Nigerians deserve to feel the recovery they have financed through sacrifice,” he said.
Criticises Atiku, Obi
The vice-president also took a swipe at African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi, both prominent opposition figures expected to challenge the APC in 2027.
He questioned Atiku’s economic proposals, particularly his position on production subsidies, arguing that political candidates needed to explain how their policies would be funded and which competing priorities might be affected.
“Who pays? Who benefits? And which competing priorities must surrender their funding?” he asked. “A change of ideological wardrobe cannot balance a national budget,” he added.
Shettima also criticised Obi’s use of foreign economic comparisons, arguing that policies that work in other countries cannot automatically be applied to Nigeria without considering its population, institutions and economic circumstances.
The vice president accused the former Anambra State governor of making unsubstantiated claims about winning the 2023 presidential election.
Shettima maintained that economic management required more than statistical comparisons or the ability to collect taxes, insisting that political leaders must demonstrate a deeper understanding of how modern economies function.
Despite his criticism, the vice-president said the APC would engage its opponents through arguments about policies and ideas rather than treating them as enemies.
“We’ll discuss ideas. We’ll discuss policies. We will treat all our opponents with respect and dignity. They are not our enemies. They are our brothers. They are our countrymen. They are our leaders.”
He, however, warned that the ruling party would respond to personal attacks against its leaders,” he said.
The APC is seeking to retain the presidency in the 2027 general election, with Tinubu pursuing a second term in office.
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