- Safiu Kehinde
The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has broken silence over the speculations surrounding alleged plot to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu running mate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
As contained in a statement issued on Monday by the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party refuted the claims, labelling reports suggesting the replacement plot as untrue and baseless.
The APC urged the media to refrain from circulating such rumour as it reaffirmed its support for Tinubu and Shettima.
The party however charged political appointees under the Tinubu-led administration and party officials to desist from instigating such speculations.
The statement read; “Our attention has been drawn to growing media frenzy about possible replacement of Vice President Kashim Shettima as the running mate to President Bola Tinubu under the platform of our great Party ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
“While these stories have been mostly subtle, they recently assumed a new dimension when names of specific individuals were touted as possible replacement for Vice President Shettima.
“Our Party states in categorical terms that the stories are purely speculative, untrue and utterly baseless.
“We urge media organizations 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.
“Under our laws and electoral regulations, the ban on political activities remains in force.
“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.
“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, and bolster the success and achievements of President Tinubu, our inimitable and visionary leader.”