Presidency debunks rift with Shettima, dismisses rumours as ‘beer parlour gossip’
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has clarified that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will announce his running mate for the 2027 presidential election only after the next national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust, Onanuga addressed growing speculation that President Tinubu is planning to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate ahead of the next general elections.
The rumours gained traction after Shettima’s name was noticeably omitted during an endorsement of President Tinubu’s second-term bid at an APC stakeholders summit held recently in Gombe. The omission caused a stir, with some delegates questioning why the Vice President was left out of the public show of support.
Reacting to the controversy, Onanuga dismissed the issue as a “non-issue”, stressing that it is standard practice in a presidential system for a candidate to emerge before a running mate is chosen.
“That’s what happened under Buhari; he was nominated first and later picked his running mate,” he said. “You don’t do both at once. Once INEC releases the timetable, the party convention will hold, and if the president is nominated again, he will choose his running mate.”
Onanuga also waved off allegations of a rift between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, branding the claims as unfounded and speculative.
“I’m not aware of any issues between the president and the vice president. From what I know, they have an excellent working relationship. All the speculation is just beer parlour gossip. People even say ridiculous things like Seyi Tinubu is the vice president. Absolute nonsense,” he stated.
The presidency’s comments aim to quell internal tension within the ruling party and reinforce confidence in the current administration’s unity as the 2027 elections draw closer.
Comments