By: Ovieomeleh
In a scathing social media critique that has rippled through Nigeria’s political circles, activist and political commentator Deji Adeyanju has challenged the political relevance of Vice President Kashim Shettima, branding him as “all noise and zero electoral value.”
Adeyanju, known for his outspoken analyses, aired his views on Facebook, questioning Shettima’s actual influence on the electoral fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially in the North East. “They shout ‘No Shettima, no North East votes for Tinubu’—but who is Shettima in the North East when he couldn’t even win his own state convincingly?” Adeyanju asked rhetorically.
Citing the 2023 presidential elections, he pointed to the performance of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar in Borno State; Shettima’s political base as evidence of the Vice President’s limited electoral pull. According to Adeyanju, Atiku’s strong showing in the region signaled that Shettima’s perceived grassroots support may have been overstated.
“Even in Borno, they had to lean on INEC,” Adeyanju alleged, further casting doubt on the integrity and weight of Shettima’s influence in the region. “His relevance is more vocal than it is electoral.”
The political analyst also criticized Shettima’s frequent public jabs at former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other APC figures, describing them as theatrical distractions rather than strategic political contributions. “He attacks APC leaders who stood by Tinubu when the chips were down. This is desperation taken too far,” Adeyanju wrote.
Amid growing murmurs about the APC’s 2027 game plan, Adeyanju speculated that President Tinubu may be reconsidering his ticket configuration, especially with regard to retaining Shettima.
He floated names like former Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; whose cult-like following in the North West could prove politically decisive, and former Zamfara governor Abdulaziz Yari, noted for his political machinery and war chest.
“Tinubu may likely pick a North West Muslim vice presidential candidate next time, someone who can truly bring in the votes,” Adeyanju predicted, signaling what could be a major strategic pivot in the ruling party’s electoral calculus.
As conversations intensify around 2027 and beyond, Adeyanju’s remarks strike at the heart of Nigeria’s regional political power balances.
While Shettima continues to serve as the administration’s most prominent northern voice, critics argue that oratory and optics may not suffice in the ruthless terrain of Nigerian politics, where votes, not volume, win elections.
Whether Adeyanju’s analysis reflects a broader sentiment within the APC or simply a calculated provocation remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear: the vice presidency, long considered ceremonial, is once again becoming a battleground of political strategy and survival.
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