Politics
Battle for VP Seat: Former Minister Drops Bombshell on Shettima’s Future; Reveals Shortlisted Christian Names
Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu is considering removing Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 presidential election and replacing him with a Christian candidate.
Naija News reports that Dalung made the claim in a video shared by Symfoni TV, where he said there is strong information coming from inside the ruling All Progressives Congress about plans to change the current ticket.
He explained that a group within the party is closely monitoring internal moves and passing out details about discussions at the top level.
According to him, the idea is linked to pressure from outside Nigeria, especially from the United States, over the continued use of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Dalung said party leaders now believe the same arrangement may no longer be accepted by international partners and could affect Nigeria’s image abroad.
The former minister disclosed that three to four Christian figures have already been listed as possible replacements for Shettima.
The names he mentioned include former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Catholic bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Defence Minister Christopher Musa, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume.
He added that the ruling party is reviewing whether the current religious balance can still work in the next election.
Dalung claimed the search is aimed at presenting a more acceptable ticket to foreign allies ahead of 2027.
Dalung also said President Tinubu may no longer be fully positioned for another term, pointing to rising hardship, hunger and insecurity across the country.
He argued that recent talks that no one can defeat the president are meant to cover internal problems within the party.
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The former minister insisted that although the Muslim-Muslim ticket worked in the last election, it continues to cause tension in Nigeria’s relations with Western nations.
He said: “About 3 to 4 names of Christians have been pencilled: Yakubu Dogara the former Speaker, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, General Christopher Musa the former CDS who is the minister for Defense now and George Akume the current SGF.
“There is a serious internal search for a replacement for Vice President Kashim Shettima to appease international concerns, specifically the U.S.
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“The Muslim-Muslim ticket, while successful in 2023, remains a point of friction in Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with Western powers.”
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has appointed Bashorun Akinwale Akinwole, popularly known as Wolekanle, as his new Chief of Staff, following the resignation of Segun Ogunwuyi.
Makinde also appointed Mrs Aderonke Adedayo, his Special Adviser on General Intervention and Donor Agencies, as Director-General of the Due Process Office.
The appointments were announced in letters signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, on Monday.
Akinwole, a grassroots politician, previously served as Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission.
Adedayo will combine her new responsibilities as Director-General of the Due Process Office with her existing role as Special Adviser on General Intervention and Donor Agencies.
Both appointments take immediate effect.
The governor congratulated the appointees and urged them to discharge their duties with loyalty, commitment and dedication to the service of Oyo State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to release the final list of candidates contesting the February 6, 2027.
Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, with eight states excluded from the governorship poll.
According to The Nation, the commission is scheduled to publish the final list on Saturday, October 10, 2026, in line with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
There are 8 affected states where governorship elections will not hold as part of the February 2027 electoral exercise because they operate on separate election schedules.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed during a world press conference and stakeholders’ meeting that 21 of Nigeria’s 22 registered political parties nominated 936 governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the 28 states scheduled to elect governors in 2027.
The parties also nominated 9,692 candidates for the State Houses of Assembly elections.
Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires INEC to publish the names and addresses of nominated candidates at least 60 days before an election.
The law also provides a procedure for political parties to notify the commission if a candidate’s name is missing from the published list.
Under Section 32(2), such notification must be submitted in writing, signed by the party’s national chairman and secretary, and supported by an affidavit within 14 days of publication.
Although governorship elections will not take place in the eight excluded states during the February 2027 exercise, State House of Assembly elections are scheduled across all 36 states.
The commission’s final list is expected to provide further details of the candidates and political parties participating in the elections.
INEC had earlier set September 19, 2026, as the deadline for substituting candidates and September 26, 2026, as the final date for submitting nomination forms.
The publication of the final list will be an important step in preparations for the 2027 elections, as political parties and candidates move towards the next phase of campaigning.
new Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs).
The Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the appointments of new Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs).
The Governor also approved the appointment of Alhaji Moshood Kewuyemi as the Chief Imam of the Government House Mosque.
The new SSAs include:
Ms. Folashade Ogunoye, SSA Gender
Alhaji Aminu Saidi Tunde, SSA Islamic Religion Affairs
Rev. Tunde Ogunsuyi, SSA Christian Religion Affairs
Kemisola Obamoyegun, SSA Housing
Dr. Oluwatobi Aruwajoye, SSA Primary Health
Alhaja Mohammed Sikirat Idera, SSA Muslim Women Affairs
Mrs Ehuwa Victoria Olufunke, SSA Christian Women Affairs
Alhaja Fauzart Gidado, SSA Women Mobilisation (Central).
And, others.
The appointments take immediate effect.
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