The National Vice Chairman (North East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mustapha Salihu, has explained why Vice President Kashim Shettima was not included in the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Salihu said including Shettima in the endorsement would have meant that Tinubu had already chosen his running mate for the 2027 election.

“It would have been inappropriate to endorse the Vice President along with the President because it would pre-assume that he is the running mate,” Salihu said.

The omission of Shettima happened during a North-East APC stakeholder meeting held in Gombe on Sunday, where the region endorsed President Tinubu for re-election but left out the Vice President.

The omission of Vice President Kashim Shettima also comes amid growing speculation about his political future.