News Rendezvous

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports suggesting that the Presidency is facing internal uncertainty over the fate of Vice-President Kashim Shettima as running mate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, describing the claims as speculative and lacking factual basis.

The reaction followed a report by Nigerian Tribune alleging that the Presidency was “in a fix” over the political future of the vice-president and that discussions were ongoing within the ruling party about possible alternatives to the current ticket.However, party sources and officials close to the Presidency said the claims were unfounded, insisting that the relationship between Tinubu and Shettima remains strong and that the administration is focused on governance rather than internal political calculations.

According to the sources, there has been no official discussion or decision suggesting that the President plans to drop his deputy ahead of the next election cycle.“The President has never complained to anyone about the capacity or loyalty of the Vice-President. The ticket that Nigerians elected in 2023 remains intact,” a party insider said.

The source added that Shettima continues to play a key role in the administration and enjoys the confidence of the President while discharging national assignments.

Observers also argued that many of the claims circulating in political circles are based largely on conjecture rather than verifiable facts. Some commentators had suggested that concerns over the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the APC in the 2023 election might influence political calculations for the future. But party insiders dismissed the argument as misleading, maintaining that governance under the Tinubu administration has remained inclusive and beneficial to Nigerians across religious and regional lines.

According to them, government programmes in areas such as education, healthcare and economic reforms have reached communities across states including Kaduna, Plateau and Benue, among others. They further argued that the debate over religious balancing in the ticket ignores the constitutional framework guiding Nigeria’s political system.Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and equal citizenship, while the Federal Character principle emphasises national inclusion rather than token representation based on religious identity.

The sources also described reports linking prominent politicians such as Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa to alleged plans to replace the vice-president as premature and unfounded.

They stressed that any nomination process for future elections would be guided by the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act 2022, which outlines procedures for candidate selection.

Political analysts within the party also warned against what they described as “mischief-making narratives” capable of creating unnecessary tension within the ruling party and across the country.According to them, Vice-President Shettima continues to enjoy significant support in the North-East and across other regions, particularly due to his role in national initiatives aimed at improving security and economic development.

They argued that the real issues confronting Nigeria remain insecurity, economic recovery and infrastructure development, noting that the administration is concentrating its energy on addressing those challenges.“The focus of the government is governance and delivering on the mandate Nigerians gave to the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in 2023,” the source said.

Party insiders therefore urged political actors and commentators to avoid spreading divisive narratives capable of polarising the country, stressing that stability in the political system depends on respect for the democratic mandate given by voters.