The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday rejected claims that Vice President Kashim Shettima may be replaced as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 elections, describing the reports as baseless and mischievous.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, addressed the speculation during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television. He stressed that the party was focused on governance rather than premature election talk. “That story exists only in the realm of rumours and speculation. There is no fact to it,” he said.
Morka explained that under the Electoral Act, political parties are not permitted to engage in electoral activities at this stage. He added: “Speculating about names to replace the sitting Vice President is wrong. It is simply mischievous, intended to sow discord and confusion in the polity.”
On concerns about inclusivity, Morka reassured Nigerians that the APC remains committed to representing all groups. “Our party is very inclusive. This question is not relevant at this time. When the time comes, our party has all the sensibilities and wherewithal to carry that conversation in the best interest of the country,” he noted.
Despite repeated denials, speculation about Shettima’s future gained traction in mid-2025, particularly after an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe endorsed Tinubu for a second term but excluded Shettima. Later that year, Shettima’s image was reportedly missing from party banners at a North-East zonal hearing in Maiduguri, fueling further rumours.
The APC leadership has consistently maintained that such reports are “purely speculative, untrue, and utterly baseless.”
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