No Plans to Replace Shettima as VP in 2027, Assures APC Amidst Rumours

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly denied reports suggesting plans to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing such claims as “malicious rumours.”

APC chieftain and former presidential aide, Ismaeel Ahmed, made the clarification on Monday while speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He stated unequivocally that the party has no agenda to drop Shettima, emphasizing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his deputy enjoy a strong and unified working relationship.

“These are just malicious rumours with no basis in fact,” Ahmed said. “There is no conversation within the APC about substituting the Vice President. The party stands firmly behind the Tinubu-Shettima mandate.”

The denial comes amid speculations fuelled by internal tensions at a recent North-East stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe, where Shettima’s name was allegedly omitted from a list of presidential endorsements.

The incident raised concerns about possible rifts within the party’s top ranks.

However, party leaders swiftly intervened and reaffirmed the Tinubu-Shettima ticket as “non-negotiable,” insisting that only President Tinubu has the constitutional prerogative to choose his running mate.

Also reacting, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former aide and respected voice within the APC, warned against divisive narratives, saying the Vice President remains committed to the party’s agenda of renewed hope and national development.

In a similar vein, several APC regional forums have issued statements dismissing the rumoured substitution, labeling it as a distraction and a calculated attempt to destabilize the administration.

Vice President Shettima, a former Borno State governor, was selected by Tinubu in 2022 to balance the APC presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 election.

Despite initial criticism over the Muslim-Muslim pairing, the ticket went on to secure victory at the polls.

As the 2027 political season slowly approaches, APC insiders urge supporters to focus on governance and delivery rather than engage in speculative politics.

For now, the party maintains that Shettima remains an integral part of the Tinubu administration.