From Muhammad Muhammad Al-amin, Maiduguri

For months, the political atmosphere in Nigeria was filled with speculation over one of the most closely watched questions ahead of the 2027 presidential election: Would President Bola Ahmed Tinubu retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate?

The debate dominated newspaper headlines, television discussions and social media platforms, with political analysts offering different interpretations of what the President’s next move might be.

Within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), supporters and observers weighed various permutations, while opposition parties watched closely.

As the speculation gathered momentum, several influential northern politicians were repeatedly mentioned as possible replacements for Shettima. Among the names were the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa Rtd; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; former Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; Ibrahim Masari; former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Former Kano State Governor and APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda; and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni.

The rumours were fuelled by arguments that the APC might reconsider its Muslim Muslim ticket to accommodate a northern Christian ahead of the 2027 election. Others believed the party might introduce a fresh political calculation aimed at strengthening its electoral chances.

Despite the widespread speculation, President Tinubu remained silent, allowing political commentators and party stakeholders to continue making assumptions about the future of the vice presidential slot.

The uncertainty, however, came to an end when the President officially retained Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election. The formal submission of the Tinubu Shettima ticket effectively ended months of rumours and confirmed that the President had chosen continuity over political experimentation.

The decision immediately generated reactions from across the country. Many APC leaders and supporters described it as a demonstration of confidence, loyalty and stability within the governing party.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, welcomed the decision, describing Shettima’s re-nomination as a reflection of the President’s trust in his deputy and appreciation of his contributions to the administration.

Similarly, political stakeholders from the North-East applauded the President’s decision, describing it as recognition of the region’s strategic role in national politics and governance.

Support also came from groups such as the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), which endorsed the Tinubu Shettima ticket, arguing that continuity in leadership would provide stability as the administration continues to implement its economic and security policies.

Beyond political calculations, the President’s decision sends an important message about loyalty in leadership. Since assuming office in May 2023, Vice President Shettima has remained one of the administration’s most visible defenders, representing the President at numerous national and international engagements while supporting government policies.

Although public office is often characterised by shifting alliances and changing political interests, the decision to retain Shettima suggests that trust and consistency remain important considerations in high level political partnerships.

For many observers, the development also demonstrates that political rumours, regardless of how widespread they become, do not always determine the outcome of strategic decisions. Months of speculation, media projections and political lobbying eventually gave way to the President’s own judgement.

As the APC prepares for the 2027 election, attention is now expected to shift from debates over the vice-presidential ticket to the broader campaign on governance, economic reforms, security and the party’s bid for another four-year mandate.

The Tinubu-Shettima ticket now enters the next electoral cycle with renewed certainty. Whether that decision translates into electoral success will ultimately depend not on political speculation, but on the confidence Nigerians place in the administration’s performance.

In the end, President Tinubu’s decision has done more than settle an internal party debate. It has reaffirmed an existing political partnership, rewarded loyalty in the eyes of many supporters, and reshaped the conversation as Nigeria gradually moves toward the 2027 general election.

How Family Planning Can Save Nigeria’s Population Pressure

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

As Nigeria marks World Population Day on Saturday, health experts are warning that rapid population growth is putting unsustainable pressure on maternal healthcare delivery across the region.

This surging population growth is overwhelming public medical infrastructure, creating critical shortages of vital personnel and essential lifesaving supplies in many urban primary healthcare centers.

As a result, reproductive health services are becoming increasingly overstretched, forcing experts to call for immediate, strategic interventions to safeguard vulnerable mothers and newborns across the Southwest.

The experts emphasised that family planning was the most effective tool to save mothers’ lives, reduce teenage pregnancies, and ease hospital overcrowding.

With contraceptive prevalence at just 18 per cent and thousands of young women lacking access, they are urging governments to prioritise funding, youth-friendly services, and accurate sexuality education.

World Population Day is observed on July 11 annually, with the 2026 global theme as, “Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people for their futures”.

The Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) South -West Coordinator, Mrs Elizabeth Abimbola, said Nigeria’s rapidly growing population was putting additional pressure on health facilities, providers, and contraceptive supplies in the Southwest.

Abimbola noted that from PPFN’s experience, the growing demand was stretching outreach programmes and the availability of contraceptive commodities.

Citing data from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Abimbola noted that 53.99 per cent of women surveyed (21,083 of 39,050) were aged 15 to 29 years.

According to her, the above data shows that more than half of women are within the reproductive age group.

However, she added that 18,246 women aged 15 to 29 years were not using any contraceptive method.

This, she said, indicated a significant unmet need among young people.

The PPFN South-West coordinator observed that the majority of PPFN’s family planning clients were adults aged 30 years and above.

She added that fear of judgment by providers or community members, spousal approval, misinformation, and myths about side effects also discourage uptake.

Abimbola further referenced the 2024 NDHS, which shows that 18,246 women aged 15 to 29 years are not using any contraceptive method.

This, she said, indicated a substantial unmet need for information and services among younger women.

To address this, she remarked PPFN implemented the Comprehensive Life Skills Health Education curriculum in 45 secondary schools in Oyo.

Abimbola said PPFN had introduced an e-Health application for confidential telemedicine, counselling, and referrals.

She explained that digital innovation improves access, protects clients’ privacy, and helps reach more young people.

She added that PPFN also upgraded facilities and diversified method mix through one-stop-shop centres to ensure nationwide access to SRH services.

She warned that unmet need led to unintended pregnancies, closely spaced births, and pregnancy-related complications.

On government support, Abimbola acknowledged progress in collaboration with partners and integration of Family Planning (FP) into primary healthcare.

She advised the government to prioritise investments in Family Planning, youth-friendly services, and sexuality education with increased domestic funding.

Dr Olufemi Aworinde, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, said Nigeria’s population growth was outpacing health infrastructure and worsening maternal health outcomes.

Aworinde noted that the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), projected Nigeria’s population at 237.5 million in 2025 with a fertility rate of 4.5.

He, however, emphasised that infrastructure and personnel were not growing at the same rate, leading to burnout and poor quality of care.

Aworinde said teenage pregnancies were producing the deadliest complications in Oyo, including death, anemia, obstructed labor and unsafe abortions.

He added that stigma forced many teenagers out of school and out of antenatal care, so they presented late with anemia, malaria and small-for-gestational-age babies.

The consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist described family planning as one of the most important tools for reducing maternal mortality.

Aworinde, however, listed availability, affordability, acceptability, policy failure and health worker shortage as the biggest gaps.

He also debunked myths around contraception.

He urged policymakers to treat population growth as a development crisis, not just a health issue.

He cited projections that Lagos alone could reach 80 million people in under 30 years with 60 to 70 per cent being young people.

He, therefore, urged the government to invest in infrastructure, water, food and jobs.

The consultant reiterated that most maternal deaths could be preventable and Nigerians must understand the role of planning.

Also, a Senior Registrar at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr Olufiade Oyerogba warned that Nigeria’s rapid population growth was stretching maternal and reproductive health services.

Oyerogba, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UCH, said Nigeria’s rapid population growth continued to place enormous pressure on the healthcare system, especially maternal and reproductive health services.

She said hospitals were seeing increasing numbers of pregnant women in antenatal clinics, labour wards, and emergency units.

Citing WHO estimates, she said Nigeria contributed a significant proportion of global maternal deaths.

The gynaecologist remarked that teenage pregnancies are commonly linked with serious complications.

According to her, teenage pregnancies are associated with anaemia, hypertensive disorders, obstructed labour, preterm birth, and low birth weight babies.

She added that many teenagers present late for antenatal care, emphasising that it increases the risk of poor maternal and neonatal outcomes.

On closely-spaced births, she said pregnancies within 24 months of a previous birth carried high risks.

While she said she does not have verified institutional figures, she noted these complications are regularly encountered.

The doctor described family planning as one of the most effective public health interventions, saying it enables women and couples to plan the timing and spacing of pregnancies.

According to Oyerogba also, women who space pregnancies by at least two years experience better recovery.

Oyerogba said many patients still believed myths about contraception.

She advised patients to seek counselling from trained healthcare providers, while cautioning people to avoid relying on myths or information from unverified sources.

She urged the government to match population growth with investments, strengthen primary healthcare and ensure consistent availability of family planning commodities.

To families, she urged open communication and support for girls’ education.

“The public should embrace healthy birth spacing and attend regular antenatal care.

“A healthy population is not simply about numbers. It is about ensuring every pregnancy is planned and every childbirth is safe.

“On the 2026 theme, reproductive choices are fundamental human rights, investing in women’s health and family planning is one of the smartest investments any nation can make.

“When women are healthy and empowered, families prosper, communities become stronger and national development accelerates,” Oyerogba stressed. (NAN)