Shettima clarifies comment on northern governors’ support for Tinubu

Vice President Kashim Shettima clarified his earlier comments regarding the support northern governors gave to President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2022 All Progressives Congress presidential primary. Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, issued a statement on Thursday addressing the confusion.

Shettima's original statement had suggested that only six out of 19 northern governors supported Tinubu's bid in the 2023 election. However, the clarification revealed that the Vice President was only referring to political consultations and alignments that took place prior to the APC primary in June 2022. The statement emphasized that Shettima's reference to the six governors was strictly in that context and should not be interpreted as suggesting that northern APC governors did not support Tinubu afterward.

Northern APC governors rallied behind Tinubu after the primary, playing crucial roles in his campaign that led to his victory in the 2023 general election. Shettima expressed regret for any misinterpretation of his remarks, emphasizing that his clarification aimed to put the comments in their proper context.