The All Progressives Congress has dismissed reports suggesting that Vice President Kashim Shettima could be dropped as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the claims as speculative, false and without any factual basis.
The party’s response followed growing speculation that it might reconsider the Muslim Muslim ticket that delivered victory in the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking over the weekend, the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, cautioned the ruling party against abandoning the Muslim Muslim ticket or removing Vice President Shettima.
“If there is no Hausa, Fulani or Kanuri Muslim on that ticket, it creates a hurdle. That is the reality of the way people think,” Musawa said.
She explained that politics in northern Nigeria is strongly influenced by identity, history and voter mobilisation, making the region particularly sensitive to changes in political representation.
“The core north states, like Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto, understand politics at a very deep level. Politics is a way of life. People wait every four years to line up and vote because that is where they feel they have influence,” she stated.
Musawa dismissed suggestions that the APC could alter its presidential ticket without repercussions, warning that such views reflected a poor understanding of political realities in the North.
“I think if we toy with changing the construct of what we have now, it is a problem. People who suggest otherwise may not fully understand how politics works in the north,” she said.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC said it had taken note of what it described as a “growing media frenzy” over an alleged plan to replace the Vice President.
“While these stories have been mostly subtle, they recently assumed a new dimension when names of specific individuals were touted as possible replacements for Vice President Shettima,” the party said.
The APC cautioned media organisations against amplifying unverified reports and urged them to avoid spreading rumours capable of creating division.
“Our party states in categorical terms that the stories are purely speculative, untrue and utterly baseless.
“We urge media organisations to refrain from lending their platforms to rumour-peddlers and mischievous ‘news sources’ of questionable provenance whose only intention is to promote discord and confusion in the polity,” the statement said.
The party also stressed that political activities remain restricted under existing laws and electoral regulations, noting that it is not engaged in any succession discussions at this time.
“Under our laws and electoral regulations, the ban on political activities remains in force,” Morka said, adding that the party is presently focused on governance.
“At this time, our Party remains focused on supporting President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in delivering the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and entrenching its bold reforms that are now steadily transforming the economy, building prosperity, and uplifting the living conditions of our people,” the APC said.
The party further warned its ministers, senior government officials and party leaders against making comments that could trigger unnecessary speculation.
“We call on our ministers, senior government and party officials to avoid, wittingly or unwittingly, stoking needless speculations, and to focus on their primary duty of diligent service to government and our party,” it added.
The APC urged its officials to concentrate on promoting “the success and achievements of President Tinubu, our inimitable and visionary leader.”
