Tinubu
Dropping Shettima Could Cost Tinubu 2027 Election – Hannatu Musawa Warns
By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja
Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has warned that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu risks losing the 2027 presidential election if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) decides to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima from the ticket.
Speaking during a chat with Micom TV, Musawa addressed growing rumours suggesting that Shettima might be replaced ahead of the next general election, describing such a move as politically dangerous.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s Muslim population—particularly in the core North—holds decisive electoral power, and any attempt to ignore this political reality could have serious consequences at the polls.
“For President Tinubu to win in 2027, he must have a Muslim vice president—either Hausa or Fulani. This is not optional,” Musawa said.
“The Muslim communities have the numbers to vote you in or vote you out. You don’t joke with them. If you do, you will regret it.”
The Core North Holds the Political Key
Musawa emphasized that states in the core North, including Kano, Katsina, Kaduna and Kebbi, are deeply politically conscious and highly mobilised during elections.
She explained that politics in the region is not just an activity but a way of life, rooted in identity, community influence and long-standing grassroots mobilisation.
“People underestimate the sophistication of politics in the North,” she said.
“The core North holds the key when it comes to political strategy and voter mobilisation.”
Drawing from personal experience, Musawa, who described herself as coming from a rural Fulani background in Katsina State, said northern communities closely follow political developments through informal but effective channels.
“From a very young age, I understood how politics works there. You see the malams, and what do they always have? A radio. Information spreads fast,” she noted.
She added that elections are taken seriously, with entire households mobilising every four years because voting represents one of the few moments people feel they can directly influence national power.
APC Risks Political Backlash
The minister warned that decisions taken from the political centre without understanding northern political dynamics could provoke backlash.
“If APC toys with the idea of changing the vice president, it could be very risky,” she said.
“You don’t make such assumptions without understanding how deeply politics is embedded in the lives of these people.”
Musawa stressed that ignoring this reality could cost the party critical northern votes in an open ballot system.
On Opposition and Democracy
Responding to concerns about political realignments and defections, Musawa welcomed the emergence of stronger opposition blocs, saying democracy thrives on competition.
“We don’t want a one-party state,” she said.
“The president himself wants democracy to thrive. Opposition is healthy, and it strengthens our democratic process.”
She dismissed fears that opposition parties pose an existential threat to the APC, insisting that political plurality is beneficial for Nigeria.
Bottom Line
Hannatu Musawa’s remarks highlight deep anxieties within APC over 2027, particularly around religion, regional balance, and northern voter power.
Her warning suggests that any move to drop Vice President Shettima could trigger serious political consequences in the North and reshape the 2027 electoral map.
