Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu forgave northern governors who did not support his presidential ambition during the 2023 election, urging politicians in Kwara State to embrace reconciliation after political contests.
Shettima made the remarks on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in Ilorin during the turbaning of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of the Ilorin Emirate by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
Shettima: Only Six Northern Governors Supported Tinubu
Reflecting on the 2023 presidential election, Shettima said only six of the 19 northern governors supported or believed in Tinubu’s presidential ambition at the time.
According to the Vice President, Tinubu continued with his campaign despite political opposition and eventually won the presidential election.
“You all know that we have 19 states in the North, out of these, only six actually believed and supported Tinubu, but Tinubu refused to be deterred,” Shettima said, according to reports of his remarks at the Ilorin ceremony.
Shettima recalled the political tensions surrounding the 2023 presidential contest and said Tinubu’s determination enabled him to overcome the obstacles confronting his campaign.
The Vice President also compared Tinubu’s political approach with that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he described as a politician who resisted pressure during political negotiations.
Tinubu’s Reconciliation With Former Opponents
Shettima said Tinubu subsequently reconciled with northern governors who had not supported him during the 2023 election.
“After the 2023 election, President Tinubu hugged and forgave all other Northern governors that did not support him,” Shettima said, presenting the action as an example of reconciliation after political competition.
The Vice President used the example to encourage politicians in Kwara State to move beyond disagreements arising from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary and work together after the contest.
He urged political actors to regard elections as contests rather than permanent divisions, stressing the importance of cooperation after internal party battles.
Appeal to Kwara Politicians
Shettima’s comments come amid reported disagreements within the Kwara APC following the party’s governorship primary.
Reports indicate that some aggrieved aspirants have formed a group known as the G-15 following the primary, creating a fresh internal political issue for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Rather than allowing political differences to become permanent, Shettima urged the state’s politicians to close ranks and focus on development.
His appeal places reconciliation within the broader context of preparations for the 2027 general elections, when political parties and aspirants are expected to intensify mobilisation across the country.
A Broader Political Context
The comments come at a time of heightened political activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
Within the APC, governors have recently reaffirmed their support for Tinubu and rejected political arrangements that they believe could undermine the party or the President’s re-election bid. The Progressive Governors Forum said APC governors would work together to protect the interests of the party and its candidates.
At the same time, opposition parties and political groups have been exploring possible alliances and mechanisms for cooperation ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Channels Television reported earlier this month that several opposition parties had been involved in discussions around a possible common presidential candidate.
These developments have made internal party cohesion and political alliances increasingly significant as parties prepare for the next electoral cycle.
Tinubu’s Political Journey
Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign followed years of political mobilisation within the APC and its predecessor political structures.
He ultimately won the February 2023 presidential election, defeating his major challengers and becoming Nigeria’s President in May 2023.
Shettima’s latest account focuses specifically on the relationship between Tinubu and northern political actors who, according to him, did not support Tinubu’s presidential ambition during that election.
The claim about the number of northern governors who supported Tinubu was made by Shettima at the Ilorin event and is therefore presented as his account of the 2023 political landscape. Reports from multiple Nigerian media organisations carried the same remarks.
Why the Statement Matters
Shettima’s remarks are significant because they connect past political disagreements with the current preparations for the 2027 elections.
Political contests frequently produce divisions within parties and among political allies, particularly when several aspirants compete for the same position. The Vice President’s message was that such disagreements should not permanently prevent political actors from working together afterward.
For Kwara, the appeal is particularly relevant because Governor AbdulRazaq remains a central figure in the state’s APC political structure, while internal disagreements following the party primary could influence the party’s preparations for the next election.
At the national level, the comments also underline the importance political leaders are placing on maintaining alliances and managing disagreements ahead of 2027.
Other Activities in Ilorin
During his visit to Kwara State, Shettima also inaugurated the state’s Revenue House on Ahmadu Bello Way and a garment factory in Ilorin.
The Vice President’s engagements therefore combined political, traditional and development-related activities, with the turbaning ceremony providing the setting for his remarks on political reconciliation.
What Happens Next
The immediate focus in Kwara will be on whether members of the APC can resolve disagreements arising from the governorship primary and maintain unity as the 2027 electoral cycle approaches.
More broadly, Nigerian political parties are expected to continue negotiations, alliances and internal consultations as they prepare for the next general election.
For voters, the unfolding political developments will provide further information about the candidates, alliances and policy positions that emerge before the 2027 elections.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- The PUNCH
- The Guardian Nigeria
- Arise News
- Politics Nigeria
- The Nation
- Channels Television
- Western Post
