The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is planning to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele said the alleged move is connected to Tinubu’s decision to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 election, a choice he said he had previously warned against.
According to the cleric, removing Shettima in a hostile manner could backfire politically, as the vice president may work against the interests of the ruling party if sidelined.
“I warned Tinubu of a Muslim-Muslim ticket, but most people didn’t listen. If Shettima is removed acrimoniously, he will work against the interest of the party because they are contemplating picking a governor to replace Shettima as vice president,” Ayodele said.
He further advised President Tinubu against selecting any of the governors who recently defected to the party, warning that such a move—especially if the replacement comes from the North—could trigger political tension in the region.
“If any of the crossing governors is picked from the north, this will cause aggression in the north,” he added.
Primate Ayodele also commented on Tinubu’s administration, noting that while the president is working hard, he is facing internal and external challenges.
“Tinubu is working and doing well, but two things are fighting him—nemesis and betrayal. People applauding him are also looking for his downfall,” he claimed.
On insecurity, the cleric alleged that external forces were undermining Nigeria’s security efforts, insisting that no matter the strategy adopted, challenges would persist.
The claims have sparked fresh conversations online, especially as political permutations ahead of the 2027 elections continue to gain momentum.
