2027: Tinubu Will Pick Running Mate Only After APC Convention, Says Presidential Aide Bayo Onanuga

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has clarified that the President will make his choice for running mate in the 2027 presidential election only after officially accepting the party’s nomination at the APC convention in 2026.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust, Onanuga dismissed the growing speculation surrounding the silence from the presidency about Vice President Kashim Shettima’s absence from a wave of endorsements for Tinubu. He insisted that this silence should not be interpreted as approval of Shettima’s exclusion.

“When I read those reports, I saw them as a non-issue. In a presidential system, the candidate is picked first, then the running mate is selected. That’s exactly what happened with Buhari—he was nominated first, then chose his deputy. You don’t do both simultaneously. Once INEC announces the timetable, the party convention will take place, and if the president is renominated, he will then pick his running mate,” Onanuga explained.

Addressing rumors that Tinubu might repeat his Lagos governorship pattern of frequently changing deputies, Onanuga said, “That’s just speculation. Yes, there were challenges when he was governor. In his first term, he and his deputy, Kofo, had disagreements, which led to her departure. Femi Pedro replaced her. In the second term, he kept Pedro, but Pedro later defected because he wanted to be governor. That’s why he left. I don’t want to reopen old wounds, but those were specific political circumstances. It’s wrong to say Tinubu has a habit of discarding deputies.”

Onanuga also dismissed rumors of a rift between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, stating, “I’m not aware of any issues between them. From what I know, they have an excellent working relationship. All the speculation is just beer parlour gossip. People even say ridiculous things like Seyi Tinubu is the vice president, which is absolute nonsense. Deputy roles in this country are always surrounded by rumors, even when there’s no conflict. But as far as I know, Tinubu and Shettima work very well together.”

When asked if the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket that brought Tinubu to power in 2023 would be repeated in 2027, Onanuga said the issue is no longer a concern, emphasizing that fears about Islamisation have been laid to rest. “Christians are living their lives. The president even attended the Pope’s inauguration in Rome. There’s nothing to worry about. Many of the names being speculated as running mates are Muslims, so this isn’t an issue,” he added.

Onanuga also responded to criticisms regarding the surge of endorsements for the president despite the official campaign period not yet starting. He explained, “The endorsements are a reaction. If the opposition hadn’t started attacking the Tinubu administration and the APC, the party would have waited until early next year to respond. But we had to show we’re not asleep and are ready to face the challenges. You can’t expect the president to sit quietly while opponents plot openly against him. We appreciate the confidence people have in him and welcome the endorsements, even though the campaign period hasn’t officially begun. But since the opposition jumped the gun, the ruling party can’t just fold its arms.”