Activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu's government is systematically silencing Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Idam suggested that Shettima might not be a dominant force for Tinubu to woo Northern votes considering the deafening silence of the Vice President.
In a statement he issued on Sunday, the constitutional lawyer berated the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum for endorsing Tinubu for a second term.
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The presidency had denied any form of discord between Tinubu and Shettima. This followed claims that the Vice President was prevented from accessing the Presidential Villa while his principal is in France.
However, Idam said: “PDP governors have fearfully endorsed President Tinubu for a second term against their would be candidate just to secure their own seat.
“My headache is that the systematic silencing of Vice President Kashim Shettima by the Tinubu government has deafened the existence of the Vice President Office in Nigeria. Many have lost thoughts of Mr Shettima as the Vice President.
“With the dominance exercised by President Tinubu over opposition political parties in Nigeria, I don't think Vice President Shettima will be an important political instrument required for him to woo the North to himself in 2027.
“Mr Shettima is currently out of political equation. Whether he is retained as a running mate by his principal in 2027 or not, it may not score any serious point whether positively or negatively, for President Tinubu in the next election.
“Except there is a reform in the electoral system that will permit votes to count in real time and also discourage voter intimidation, there may not be a need for Mr Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar to waste their time participating in the 2027 election.
“Sadly, Tinubu has successfully suppressed, bulldozed or subdued every political opposition. Hence, there may be no election in 2027 except a coronation.”
