Vice President Kashim Shettima has criticised opposition politicians seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027, questioning their ability to govern Nigeria when they struggle to maintain unity within their own political parties.

Speaking on Wednesday, Shettima said the All Progressives Congress (APC) had maintained a broad national coalition under Tinubu’s leadership, despite predictions that the ruling party would disintegrate.

“Under President Tinubu, the APC has sustained a broad national coalition. Meanwhile, those offering to rescue Nigeria cannot keep their own political households intact,” he said.

Shettima challenged opposition leaders to demonstrate their capacity to manage Nigeria’s diverse interests, arguing that reconciling the ambitions of a few politicians was a far less demanding task than governing more than 200 million citizens.

“If reconciling a few party leaders defeats you, how will you reconcile the interests of over 200 million citizens?” he asked.

The Vice President also took aim at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his proposal for production subsidies, questioning its financial implications and consistency with his long-standing political and economic outlook.

Shettima described the current political season as “a masterclass in cinematic comedy”, arguing that political ambition should be matched by intellectual maturity, discipline and responsibility.

He questioned who would finance Atiku’s proposed subsidies, who would benefit from them and which other government priorities might lose funding as a result.

“Who pays? Who benefits? And which competing priorities must surrender their funding?” he asked.

“A change of ideological wardrobe cannot balance a national budget.”

Shettima said the pursuit of public office was not merely about the desire to gain power but also a test of character and responsibility.

“The higher the office a person seeks, the greater the discipline expected in his work,” he said.

The remarks come as political parties and potential contenders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election, with the APC seeking to defend Tinubu’s administration against opposition criticism of its policies and performance.