The election of Nentawe Yilwatda as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress has effectively dispelled mounting speculation about a deteriorating relationship between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, according to party insiders.
Political observers had expressed growing concerns about the stability of the Tinubu-Shettima partnership, particularly regarding rumors that the President might consider dropping his deputy as running mate for the 2027 elections. These speculations intensified following the appointment of Ali Bukar Dalori from Borno State as acting chairman after Abdullahi Ganduje’s resignation.
However, party analysts believe Yilwatda’s emergence from the North Central zone represents a strategic stabilizing move that strengthens the ruling party’s zoning arrangement and reinforces the Tinubu-Shettima ticket ahead of future elections.
The new leadership structure, featuring Tinubu from the South-West, Shettima from the North-East, and Yilwatda from the North Central, is viewed as maintaining the APC’s traditional commitment to equitable power distribution across different regions. Political commentators suggest this arrangement enhances Shettima’s prospects of retaining the vice-presidential position while consolidating his influence as the dominant political leader in the North-East.
Significantly, Yilwatda’s Christian faith is expected to help address longstanding criticisms of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. His appointment introduces Christian representation into the party’s top hierarchy, potentially broadening the ruling party’s appeal among Christian voters, particularly in North Central states with substantial Christian populations.
Former APC Chairman in Lagos State, Henry Ajomale, a close associate of President Tinubu, has categorically dismissed allegations of friction between the President and Vice President. Speaking in a telephone interview, Ajomale described the rift rumors as deliberate misinformation designed to destabilize the party.
“We have been hearing rumour about a frosty relationship between Shettima and the President, but I don’t think so. A lot of things are being done to divide the APC by creating false information that there is a problem between the President and the Vice President, which I am aware doesn’t exist,” Ajomale stated.
He attributed the speculation to opposition elements seeking to undermine party unity and emphasized that he had seen no evidence supporting claims of presidential-vice presidential discord. Ajomale characterized the rumors as “a ploy to tarnish the image of the party and the Vice President.”
Regarding the North Central zone’s selection for the chairmanship position, Ajomale explained that the choice was both constitutionally appropriate and politically strategic. He noted that since former National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu was from Nasarawa State in the North Central, it was “only fair” for a replacement to come from the same zone to complete the tenure.
Ajomale praised the North Central region’s significant contribution to the APC’s 2023 electoral victory, noting that despite the controversy surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket, the predominantly Christian zone delivered substantial votes for the party. He described the chairmanship appointment as appropriate compensation for their electoral support.
“At the last election, North Central contributed to the victory of Mr President because they voted massively for APC. Irrespective of the fact that majority of them are Christians and all the blackmails surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket to sway their votes in favour of either Peter Obi or someone else to block Asiwaju from becoming the President, they played their role well,” he explained.
The former Lagos APC chairman expressed confidence that the new leadership arrangement addresses various regional concerns within the party, with the South-South represented through the Senate President and the North-East through the Vice President, creating a more balanced and inclusive power structure.
