Defeat Atiku Respectfully – VP Shettima Sends Message to Northerners

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North to defeat former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar respectfully in the 2027 general elections.

Shettima made the remarks on Saturday in Abuja during the unveiling of the campaign headquarters of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a northern coalition supporting the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and the Vice President.

The Vice President said he was more concerned about disagreements within the ruling party than the opposition’s activities, including those of Atiku and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

“Honestly, I am not afraid of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am not afraid of a diminished Peter Obi. But I am more afraid of internal contradictions within our household. If we unite as a people, as a family, we will conquer,” he said.

Shettima warned northern political leaders against concentrating on the presidential election while undermining APC governors and other party candidates contesting elections in their respective states.

“There is no point in championing the cause of the presidential election and then undermining the governor in the gubernatorial election. Honestly, it will not go down well with the system,” he said.

He urged party supporters to work collectively for the success of the APC at all levels, stressing that the party needed a united front to retain power in the 2027 elections.

“Let’s rally round our governors. Let’s rally round our members of the National Assembly. Let’s rally round President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and see to the victory in the next round of elections,” the Vice President added.

Shettima also expressed confidence in the APC’s standing across northern Nigeria, claiming that the region had already demonstrated its support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

“By now, I believe the North has spoken. We have spoken with a resounding voice and unmistakable conviction. From Adamawa to Zamfara, from Borno to Niger, we have spoken,” he said.

He noted that the election was approaching and urged party leaders and supporters to intensify their mobilisation while acknowledging the need to address the concerns of Nigerians.

“In less than 100 days, Nigerians will return to the polls. Democracy requires us to seek their confidence again, with humility about the work outstanding and conviction about the cause we have chosen,” Shettima said.

Addressing the contest involving Atiku, the former vice-president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Shettima urged APC supporters to defeat him through political engagement rather than hostility.

“Go and perform. Go and defeat Baba Atiku. Defeat him respectfully,” he told the gathering.

The remark comes days after the APC Presidential Campaign Council directed party leaders, spokespersons, members and support groups to accord Atiku the respect due to his former office and status as a presidential candidate, despite disagreements over his public criticism of Tinubu.

In a statement issued on October 12, the spokesperson of the council, Dele Alake, said party members should continue to show the former vice-president the appropriate courtesies, even as they challenged his political positions.

The council had criticised Atiku for addressing Tinubu as “Bola”, describing the manner of address as unbecoming of a former vice-president and a presidential aspirant.

However, it said the ruling party would not respond by abandoning standards of political conduct.