Shettima Reminds North of Tinubu's Past Support for Regional Politicians

Vice President Kashim Shettima has used the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna to counter suggestions that President Bola Tinubu has neglected northern interests. Speaking on Saturday, Shettima outlined Tinubu's history of supporting northern political candidates across multiple elections and administrations.

Shettima specifically referenced Tinubu's assistance to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2007, when Atiku departed the Peoples Democratic Party. According to Shettima's account, Tinubu offered Atiku both refuge and electoral backing during that period.

Shettima also mentioned Tinubu's support for National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and late President Muhammadu Buhari as further evidence of the president's commitment to northern politicians. The vice president framed his remarks as a call for reciprocity.

He told northern voters that given Tinubu's track record of backing regional candidates, the north should return the favor by voting to re-elect Tinubu and other APC candidates across all positions in the 2027 elections. This reciprocal support framework formed the central argument of Shettima's campaign messaging at the Kaduna event.

Shettima's defense addressed claims that Tinubu holds unfavorable views toward the northern region. By cataloguing specific instances of past political collaboration, he sought to establish that Tinubu has demonstrated consistent engagement with northern leadership across different political cycles and contexts.