Vice President warns against divisive politics, calls for decorum as internal consultations and ambitions intensify

By Ifeoma Onyekachi

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on political actors within the All Progressives Congress (APC) to conduct themselves with restraint and maturity as political activities gather momentum ahead of upcoming contests.

In a statement personally signed by the Vice President, Shettima cautioned against actions capable of destabilising the party, urging members not to “pull down the roof” in the heat of political engagements often associated with what he described as the “fever of democracy.”

He noted that consultations are already underway across the party, with aspirants reaching out, elders receiving delegations, and supporters actively mobilising, signaling a vibrant phase in the democratic process.

Describing the moment as evidence that democracy remains alive, Shettima said the evolving political landscape reflects a system where power is negotiated, contested, persuaded, and ultimately earned.

The Vice President, however, warned that such periods also come with risks, including the tendency to misinterpret disagreements as betrayal, competition as enmity, and media narratives as absolute truth.

He emphasised that as members of a shared political platform—with diverse ambitions, loyalties, and expectations—differences are inevitable but must be managed responsibly.

According to him, democracy is not designed to eliminate ambition but to refine it, enabling political actors to compete without destroying one another, disagree without demonising opponents, and accept outcomes without undermining the system that gives them relevance.

Shettima further urged party members to resist manipulation by vested interests, mischief-makers, and divisive influences, stressing the need to prioritise unity and the long-term stability of the party.