Vice President Kashim Shettima says he fears APC internal divisions more than PDP, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi ahead of 2027 elections, warns northern leaders against undermining governors.
*APC's INTERNAL CONTRADICTIONS SCARE ME MORE THAN ATIKU, OBI - VP SHETTIMA*
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said he fears divisions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) more than he fears the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
"Honestly, I am not afraid of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am not afraid of a diminished Peter Obi. But I am more afraid of internal contradictions within our household. If we unite as a people, as a family, we will conquer," he said.
He warned northern leaders against pursuing the presidential race at the expense of their governors. "There is no point in championing the cause of the presidential election and then undermining the governor in the gubernatorial election. Honestly, it will not go down well with the system," he said.
"Let's rally round our governors. Let's rally round our members of the National Assembly. Let's rally round President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and see to the victory in the next round of elections," he added.
He told the gathering that the poll is close. "In less than 100 days, Nigerians will return to the polls. Democracy requires us to seek their confidence again, with humility about the work outstanding and conviction about the cause we have chosen," he said.
On Atiku Abubakar, Kashim Shettima urged party members to take him on respectfully. "Go and perform. Go and defeat Baba Atiku. Defeat him respectfully," he said.
He said the party had the structure to contest every polling unit. "There are 176,845 polling units across the country. The APC, from ward to local government levels, has 361,045 officials. What it means is that we can match every polling unit two to two," he said.
*Analysis:* Shettima's comment is a direct call for internal unity as APC prepares for 2027, signaling that the biggest threat to the ruling party may come from within.
