A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Professor Haruna Yerima, has faulted ongoing agitations by some stakeholders from the North-Central zone demanding the vice-presidential slot be zoned to their region in 2027.
Professor Yerima, a former member of the House of Representatives, described the agitation as “ill-timed, diversionary, insensitive, and in poor taste.” According to him, such a move risks destabilising Nigeria’s current power-sharing formula and distracting the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday, Prof. Yerima maintained that the balance of power between Nigeria’s North and South has remained consistent since the return to democracy in 1999, with the vice-presidency historically aligned to presidential preferences and strategic interests.
“Between 1999 and 2007, President Olusegun Obasanjo maintained Atiku Abubakar as Vice President. Then came Namadi Sambo under President Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015. In 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari worked with Prof. Yemi Osinbajo until 2023. Why change the pattern now?” Yerima queried.
His comments come in reaction to threats issued by the North-Central Renaissance Movement, led by Prof. Nghargbu K’tso, warning that the region may withdraw support for President Tinubu unless the vice-presidency is rotated to their zone. The group had met in a closed-door session with key political figures, including former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd); Senator John Danboyi; and traditional ruler, HRH Alhaji Musa Baba Yunusa, citing alleged 65 years of marginalisation.
Describing the demands as blackmail, Prof. Yerima said, “Trying to compel the president to change his deputy through threats is not only undemocratic but also counterproductive. The choice of Vice President is the president’s prerogative. No one should impose a candidate on him.”
He noted that Vice President Kashim Shettima was carefully selected by President Tinubu based on competence and strategic alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda. “Senator Shettima has performed commendably in office and remains a key part of the administration’s delivery framework,” he said.
Addressing the claims of marginalisation, Yerima argued that the North-Central has produced some of the longest-serving Nigerian leaders. “General Yakubu Gowon, from Plateau State, led Nigeria for nine years, while General Ibrahim Babangida from Niger State served for eight years. That’s 17 years of leadership from the North-Central,” he stated.
According to Yerima, these historical facts invalidate claims of exclusion. He emphasized the need for unity within the party and support for President Tinubu’s administration to fulfil its mandate. “At this point, what the president needs is full backing, not distractions. Discussing 2027 politics now detracts from our current developmental priorities,” he added.
The APC stalwart called on all party loyalists and stakeholders to focus on governance rather than premature electoral permutations.
