The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has firmly dismissed reports suggesting that he is being positioned to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking on the matter, Yilwatda described the reports as completely false and misleading, stressing that the ruling party has no intention of dropping Shettima from the ticket. According to him, the claims are nothing more than political speculation being pushed by opposition elements seeking to create confusion within the APC.
He made it clear that discussions around a presidential running mate are premature and irrelevant at this stage, noting that such decisions can only come after the party concludes its primary elections. Until then, he said, any conversation about replacing the vice president should be ignored.
Yilwatda further emphasized that the current Tinubu–Shettima ticket remains intact and united, adding that no internal meeting or consultation has taken place within the party to suggest otherwise. He maintained that the APC leadership is focused on governance and party strengthening, not distractions fueled by rumours.
“People are trying to raise dust where there is no dust at all,” the APC chairman said. “Most of these speculations are coming from the opposition. Nobody is discussing the issue of the vice president.”
The clarification comes amid growing political chatter as parties begin early positioning ahead of the 2027 elections. Analysts say such rumours are common as the election cycle approaches, especially when opposition groups attempt to exploit perceived cracks within ruling parties.
Within the APC, however, party insiders insist that there is no crisis regarding the vice presidency. They argue that the Tinubu–Shettima partnership was carefully chosen and remains a key pillar of the party’s leadership structure.
Observers also point out that it would be unusual for a ruling party to begin debating a change in running mate so far from the primaries, particularly when there has been no official indication of dissatisfaction with the current vice president’s performance.
For now, the APC leadership is urging supporters and the general public to rely only on verified statements from the party rather than social media speculation. As Yilwatda’s comments suggest, the party is keen to shut down what it sees as unnecessary political noise and refocus attention on governance and internal consolidation.