2027: DON’T PULL DOWN THE ROOF – VP SHETTIMA URGES APC UNITY, WARNS AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE POLITICS
ABUJA, NIGERIA — APRIL 30, 2026
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on leaders, aspirants, and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to exercise restraint and maintain unity as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to gather momentum.
In a strongly worded statement titled “2027: Don’t Pull Down the Roof,” Shettima likened the APC to a family that must not be destroyed by internal ambitions and rivalries.
He noted that while political consultations, lobbying, and aspirations are natural features of democracy, they must not degenerate into conflict or division within the party.
“The political season is upon us again… aspirants are making calls, elders are receiving visits, and the marketplace of ambition is alive once more. This is proof that our democracy still breathes,” he said.
However, the Vice President warned against the dangers of misinterpreting political competition as enmity, urging party members to avoid being manipulated by misinformation, vested interests, or divisive narratives.
“A political party is not a battlefield. It is a family. And even in the most spirited family, the roof must never be pulled down because one room appears warmer than another,” he stated.
Shettima emphasised that democracy was designed to manage ambition peacefully, not eliminate it, adding that members must learn to compete without destroying one another or weakening the party’s foundation.
He stressed that the real challenge lies beyond party primaries, noting that only a united party can secure victory in a general election.
“A fractured party may produce a candidate, but only a united party can produce victory,” he said, adding that elections are ultimately won through collective effort across communities and not just internal party processes.
The Vice President also urged party leaders to ensure fairness, transparency, and inclusiveness in the conduct of primaries, while calling on aspirants to show maturity and accept outcomes in good faith.
He further cautioned against allowing external influences, including media narratives, to fuel internal discord, urging members to prioritise dialogue, discipline, and collective responsibility.
Referencing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Shettima said the administration’s political journey reflects the importance of accommodation, resilience, and coalition-building in sustaining democracy.
He concluded by urging all stakeholders to protect the unity of the party, emphasising that personal ambition must not come at the expense of the collective structure.
“Contest, but do not destroy. Disagree, but do not defame. Aspire, but do not divide… The roof over this house shelters all of us. If we pull it down in anger, nobody will be spared by the storm,” he said.
