Vice President Kashim Shettima has drawn cheers from supporters after sprinting towards the podium alongside the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, at the party’s presidential campaign rally in Cross River State.
The moment occurred on Monday during the campaign event held in Calabar, where Shettima and other APC leaders raced towards the stage, exciting party supporters gathered at the venue.
A video from the rally showed the Vice President and the APC National Chairman sprinting towards the podium as the crowd watched and cheered.
The rally forms part of the APC’s nationwide campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the party’s campaign schedule, the nationwide rallies began in Kaduna State on October 24 and are expected to end with a grand finale in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to personally lead campaign rallies in 12 strategic states across the country’s geopolitical zones, while other senior party leaders will oversee activities in the remaining states.
The Cross River rally comes amid intensifying political activities as parties begin mobilising supporters and promoting their candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
Shettima’s sprint recalls Makinde’s jumping display
The Vice President’s energetic appearance also recalls a recent political gathering where Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde challenged presidential contenders to demonstrate their physical energy.
At an Allied Peoples Movement (APM) Southwest Town Hall meeting held at the Ondo State International Conference Centre, popularly known as The Dome, in Akure, Makinde urged Nigerians to consider the physical energy of candidates.
His jumping display, however, attracted criticism from APM chieftain in Oyo State, Adebisi Olopoeyan, who described it as childish and argued that physical agility was not a measure of leadership competence.
“Is Aso Rock a fighting ground? Are we electing a wrestler or a president who understands the problems of Nigeria and has the capacity to solve them?” Olopoeyan asked.
He maintained that presidential campaigns should focus on policies and practical solutions to Nigeria’s economic and security challenges rather than physical performances.
According to him, Nigerians need candidates who can explain how they intend to tackle insecurity, create jobs, improve electricity supply and address economic hardship.
“Governance is not about how high you can jump on a stage. It is about how well you can think, how sound your judgement is, how you manage public resources, how you protect lives and property, and how you improve the living conditions of the people,” he said.
Olopoeyan added that political candidates should explain what they would do differently to improve the country, arguing that physical displays would not address the daily challenges facing citizens.
