Shittu made the remarks during an interview on Naija Unfiltered on SYMFONI, where he reflected on his long political career and the internal dynamics within the All Progressives Congress during the build-up to past elections.
According to the former minister, the incident involved a senior political figure who allegedly informed him that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed party leaders to ask him to withdraw from the governorship contest.
“A senator phoned me to say that the president says they should tell me that I should withdraw,” Shittu said during the interview.
He alleged that the message turned out to be misleading and not a direct instruction from the president, suggesting that certain individuals within the party may have manipulated the situation for political advantage.
Shittu said he was shocked to later realize that the supposed “anointed candidate” narrative was not backed by any official communication from the presidency, according to his understanding of subsequent events.
The former minister explained that he had invested significantly in the governorship race, including what he described as a ₦50 million financial commitment, making the alleged deception even more painful for him politically.
Despite his disappointment, Shittu said he still found some relief in the fact that he did not suffer further financial losses beyond what he had already committed.
He also suggested that internal party politics played a major role in shaping the outcome of the governorship primaries, with competing interests influencing how candidates were positioned and supported.
According to him, later findings indicated that President Tinubu was not directly involved in endorsing any specific aspirant, contrary to what he was initially told.
Shittu instead pointed to party operatives and political actors within the system whom he accused of spreading misinformation for personal or strategic gain.
The comments have sparked renewed debate about internal democracy and candidate selection processes within Nigerian political parties, especially during highly competitive primaries.
Political observers say such claims reflect long-standing concerns among aspirants about transparency and communication gaps within party structures during election seasons.
Some analysts argue that misunderstandings or deliberate misinformation about “anointed candidates” often play a significant role in shaping political outcomes, especially in high-stakes races.
Others note that the APC, like many major parties in Nigeria, has often faced internal disputes during primaries, with aspirants frequently alleging bias, miscommunication, or manipulation.
As reactions continue, Shittu’s remarks have added to ongoing conversations about trust, party discipline, and the influence of political gatekeepers in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The former minister maintains that his experience serves as a lesson about the dangers of relying on unofficial political messages during high-level contests.
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