Opposition politicians seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 have been challenged to resolve internal party disputes, with Vice President Kashim Shettima questioning their ability to manage Nigeria’s diverse interests amid persistent divisions within their ranks.
Shettima gave the challenge on Wednesday during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He argued that politicians who struggle to reconcile differences among their party leaders would face greater challenges managing the competing interests of a country with more than 200 million people.
“Meanwhile, those offering to rescue Nigeria cannot keep their own political households intact”, he said.
The vice president described the 2027 general election as an opportunity for Nigerians to assess the competence, character and policy positions of those seeking the presidency.
He urged members of the campaign council to strengthen grassroots mobilisation, engage communities and communicate the administration’s policies and achievements to voters.
Shettima stressed that every committee must demonstrate its commitment through hard work, while ensuring that public grievances receive proper attention.
Defending the administration’s economic reforms, the vice president said President Tinubu inherited an economy facing severe fiscal pressures and took difficult decisions that previous administrations had avoided.
He cited the removal of the fuel subsidy and measures to address distortions in the foreign exchange market as key steps towards correcting longstanding economic challenges.
Shettima maintained that the administration had prioritised long-term economic stability over immediate political popularity, arguing that the reforms were necessary to address the country’s economic difficulties.
