Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has distanced himself from growing calls by political support groups urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to choose him as a running mate in the 2027 general election, calling such agitations “premature” and “misplaced.”
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, Senator Barau described the campaign — led prominently by the Northern Nigeria Progressive Youth Assembly (NNPYA) — as a distraction from more pressing national concerns.
Barau appealed to his supporters and political interest groups to halt the campaign immediately and instead channel their energy toward supporting the Tinubu administration’s reform agenda.
Barau’s statement comes just days after political tensions surfaced during a high-profile APC stakeholders’ summit in Gombe State, where Vice Chairman of the APC North-East, Mustapha Salihu, stirred controversy by endorsing President Tinubu as the party’s sole 2027 presidential candidate — without naming Vice President Kashim Shettima as his presumed running mate.
The omission triggered protests from attendees, who demanded that Shettima’s name be explicitly included in any endorsement declaration. The incident has since fueled fresh speculation that some northern APC powerbrokers may be considering alternative candidates for the number two position.
Despite the growing chatter, the National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru, clarified that no official discussions have commenced within the party regarding the choice of a running mate for the 2027 election.
Barau, widely regarded as an influential northern politician with a strong legislative record, has long been seen as a potential frontrunner for top political roles. However, in his statement, he made it clear that national unity and governance must come before personal ambition.
As Nigeria navigates economic reforms and mounting security challenges, the early emergence of succession debates has drawn criticism from some quarters who believe such discourse could destabilize internal party dynamics and distract from governance.
Barau’s stance appears aimed at calming the waters — reaffirming loyalty to the president while distancing himself from premature 2027 maneuvering.
