Amid swirling speculations about a possible rift between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, a senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ismaeel Ahmed, has firmly dismissed the rumors. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ahmed, a former member of the APC Board of Trustees, labeled the reports as “malicious rumors” and stressed that there is no plan to substitute the Vice President in the 2027 election.
“These claims are absolutely untrue,” Ahmed said, addressing growing concerns that there may be friction within the highest echelons of the party. “Who is ever in a 100% relationship with anyone? There is trust between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima. These rumors are nothing but baseless fabrications,” he added.
Ahmed further reassured party members and Nigerians that there were no discussions regarding replacing Shettima or “blocking” him from future political activities. “The rumors are being peddled by people who likely don’t understand how the presidency operates,” he said.
He called on Nigerians to focus on governance rather than engaging in political distractions, emphasizing that the administration still has significant work ahead. “We have a four-year mandate. Let’s focus on governing and delivering on the promises we made. We should communicate our achievements effectively to the people,” he concluded.
APC North-East Summit Sparks Controversy
The statement from Ahmed comes in the wake of a dramatic incident at the APC North-East summit in Gombe on Sunday. During the summit, Mustapha Salihu, the APC’s National Vice Chairman for the North-East, publicly endorsed President Tinubu for a second term without acknowledging Vice President Shettima.
Ahmed addressed the controversy on the same programme, asserting that the endorsement was in line with APC traditions. “It is part of our party culture that the sitting president does not face opposition for a second term. This is not an endorsement that President Tinubu needs. It’s a given that he will be our candidate in 2027,” Ahmed explained.
He went on to criticize the endorsement as “orchestrated sycophancy,” stating that such public displays were unnecessary and distracting.
Party Leaders Push Back on Marginalisation Rumours
Mustapha Salihu also responded to claims of Shettima’s marginalisation, which were raised following the endorsement incident. He dismissed these accusations as the work of “conflict entrepreneurs” and insisted that such rumors were common in any administration.
“These rumors are inevitable,” Salihu said. “There will always be people trying to stir up friction between the President and Vice President. But those of us in the APC know that this is simply not the case.”
He further explained that the party did not offer a vice-presidential ticket for 2027 and that any suggestions of a new running mate were premature. “Endorsing Tinubu with conditions or suggesting a running mate at this stage would be like putting the cart before the horse,” Salihu added.
APC Leadership Stays Focused on Governance
In his remarks, Ahmed cautioned against prematurely treating political opponents as threats, stating that the APC should focus on fulfilling its governance obligations rather than engaging in premature campaigning. “The APC is not afraid of any opposition,” Ahmed asserted. “We should not waste energy responding to opposition that has yet to pose a challenge.”
Ahmed also praised President Tinubu for encouraging political competition, noting that the President has no fear of opposition and is not running away from it. “There will be a time for a campaign, but right now, we must focus on the work we have been elected to do,” he concluded.
As tensions simmer, the APC continues to face challenges in managing internal dynamics and preparing for the 2027 election cycle. However, party leaders remain resolute in their focus on governance rather than political distractions.