APC Chieftain Denies Plot to Drop Shettima in 2027, Dismisses Rift Rumours

By Iyojo Ameh

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ismaeel Ahmed, has denied reports suggesting a plot within the ruling party to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Ahmed described the claims as “malicious rumours” fueled by political mischief-makers. He insisted that the relationship between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima remains solid and unthreatened.

“There is trust between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima,” Ahmed said. “We are trying to create an issue where there is none. There is no discussion—absolutely none—about substituting the Vice President.”

The comments follow uproar from Sunday’s APC North-East Summit in Gombe, where the party’s National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, endorsed President Tinubu for a second term but made no mention of Shettima, who hails from the region. The omission sparked speculation about a possible rift at the top.

Ahmed, however, brushed off the controversy, describing the endorsement as unnecessary political theatrics.

“Why are we endorsing a sitting president within his own party? It’s a given that he will be our candidate in 2027,” he said. “This kind of orchestrated sycophancy only distracts from governance.”

He urged party members and stakeholders to focus on delivering the administration’s mandate, rather than being consumed by internal politics and 2027 calculations.

“We still have a lot to do. There’s one year to the primaries and two to the election. We need to govern, not campaign,” he said.

In a separate appearance on the same programme, Mustapha Salihu dismissed insinuations of a cold war between Tinubu and Shettima as the work of “conflict entrepreneurs.” He said the endorsement of President Tinubu was within the bounds of party conduct and did not require inclusion of the Vice President.

“We don’t have a vice-presidential ticket to offer,” Salihu said. “The endorsement was lawful and strategic. Any suggestion of a snub is simply wrong.”

He also emphasized that the internal affairs of the party are not conducted on social media or through the press, warning against politicizing normal party activities.

“There’s no discontent in the North-East. Anybody claiming otherwise is simply misinformed or stirring trouble for personal gain,” Salihu added.

Both APC figures agreed that the party should prioritize effective communication and delivery of governance to the Nigerian people, rather than being sidetracked by opposition rhetoric or premature campaign activities.