The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will announce his running mate for the 2027 presidential election only after the party’s national convention, where he is expected to be formally nominated.
Onanuga made this known during an exclusive interview with Daily Trust, where he addressed growing public curiosity over the conspicuous absence of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s name in recent rounds of endorsements for the president.
Addressing concerns over Shettima’s omission from key endorsements, Onanuga dismissed assumptions that the silence from the presidency indicated an intentional sidelining of the Vice President. According to him, the presidential system allows the candidate to emerge first before naming a running mate — a process consistent with democratic norms and the precedent set during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s era.
“When I read the reports, I dismissed them as baseless. In a presidential system, the candidate is selected first, and only afterward does he choose a running mate. That’s how it worked with Buhari — he was nominated first before announcing his deputy. It’s the same approach that will apply here. Once INEC releases the timetable and the party holds its convention, if President Tinubu is nominated, he will then decide on a running mate,” Onanuga explained.
Onanuga categorically denied rumors of any friction between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima. He described the speculations as mere “beer parlour gossip,” stating that both leaders enjoy a cordial and productive working relationship.
“To the best of my knowledge, there’s no conflict between the president and the vice president. They work well together. People make up all sorts of stories, including laughable claims like Seyi Tinubu is acting as vice president. Absolute nonsense. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, deputy roles — whether vice president or deputy governor — are often surrounded by unfounded gossip, even when everything is fine,” he asserted.
Responding to suggestions that Tinubu’s gubernatorial history in Lagos — where he replaced deputies during his tenure — might repeat itself, Onanuga clarified that those decisions were circumstantial and not a deliberate trend of discarding deputies.
He said, “Those were political situations. In Tinubu’s first term, his deputy, Kofo, had issues with him and had to step down. She was replaced by Femi Pedro, who continued into the second term. Pedro later defected from the party because he had gubernatorial ambitions. That was the cause of the fallout. So it’s unfair to say Tinubu has a pattern of discarding deputies.”
When asked whether his comments hinted at a possible repeat of the Muslim-Muslim ticket that sparked debates in 2023, Onanuga downplayed the controversy. He emphasized that Nigerians have since moved past those fears, and the issue has lost its political weight.
“The fears about Islamisation have proven unfounded. Christians are living their lives freely. The president even attended the Pope’s inauguration in Rome. Many of the names being floated as possible running mates are also Muslims. So again, it’s not a matter that should concern anyone,” he stated.
Onanuga also responded to criticisms over the increasing wave of endorsements for President Tinubu, despite the fact that INEC has not yet declared the campaign period open. He explained that the early endorsements were necessary, given the attacks launched by opposition figures and groups.
“These endorsements didn’t come from nowhere. They are a reaction to provocation. The opposition started attacking the Tinubu administration and the APC early, so it was necessary to show that we are alert and ready to respond. We cannot afford to sit idle while political opponents are openly plotting,” he said.
He added, “While we acknowledge that campaigns haven’t officially started, the endorsements reflect the confidence people have in President Tinubu. Naturally, we appreciate that show of support.”