Political activist and convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, has launched a scathing critique of Vice President Kashim Shettima, accusing him of having “zero electoral value” despite his visibility and oratorical presence in national politics.
In a strongly worded statement shared on social media, Adeyanju claimed that Shettima’s political contributions to President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 victory were negligible.
He argued that despite being a former governor, Shettima could not even secure significant support from his home state of Borno during the last election.
“Shettima is all noise and zero electoral value. If it is oratory and to attack Osinbajo and call him ice cream man, I give that to him 100%, but electoral value, zero,” Adeyanju stated.
He further alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) relied on external support from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to win Borno State, suggesting that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar “defeated them silly” in the North East region during the 2023 presidential polls.
Adeyanju dismissed claims by Shettima’s supporters that the North East would withhold support from Tinubu if Shettima is not on the 2027 ticket, describing such posturing as laughable and baseless.
“Who is Shettima in the North East that he could barely win his state, Borno?” he questioned, adding that the vice president’s influence in the region is often overstated.
Turning to 2027, Adeyanju speculated that President Tinubu, who he described as a master of Nigeria’s political “numbers game,” may seek to replace Shettima with a more electorally viable running mate.
He floated two prominent northern politicians as possible candidates: former Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, noted for his strong grassroots support, and Senator Abdulaziz Yari, who demonstrated his political weight in the hotly contested 2023 Senate Presidency race.
“Tinubu may likely go to the North West and pick a strong VP candidate that can bring in the numbers or resources,” Adeyanju predicted.
The activist also referenced what he called a “desperate” move by Shettima’s camp during a recent North East endorsement event for the president, where tensions reportedly ran high among APC leaders
