The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed hints of splits within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, branding the swapping of the party’s 2027 ticket “unfounded and baseless.”
While President Tinubu has not officially indicated that he will contest re-election for a second term, political supporters are already mobilizing support ahead of the 2027 elections.
Against this background of hype, news emerged that Tinubu was considering replacing his running mate Shettima.
Gistreel reports that APC’s National Director of Publicity Alhaji Bala Ibrahim emphatically rejected the idea, referring to the reports as “beer-parlour gossip” and without factual basis.
This is mere rumor without substance. These are beer-parlour discussion that need not be taken seriously,” Ibrahim said.
He also clarified that any change to the party’s presidential ticket—if ever on the cards—would involve broad consultation with party leaders and stakeholders, not whimsical decisions.
“The removal of a vice president—if it ever arises—is far beyond individual discretion. It is one for broad-based consultation involving principal party organs and leaders,” he added.
At the same time, calls for more political representation grew in the North Central region as stakeholders reemphasized their demand for representation at the highest levels of government.
Leaders from Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kogi, and Kwara states met in Abuja, requesting that political parties zone the vice presidency or presidency to the area in 2027.
Speaking at the press conference, Professor Nghargbu K’tso, the leader of the delegation, lamented the region’s historical political marginalization.
“Of the six geopolitical regions of Nigeria, North Central and South East alone have not occupied offices of president or vice president in the past 26 years of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
“In fact, the situation of the North Central is worse than that of the South East, which at least had Dr. Alex Ekwueme as vice president from 1979 to 1983.”
The delegation insisted that if President Tinubu is to be nominated for re-election, justice calls for the North Central to be given the vice-presidential slot.
But APC was quick to dismiss the call as “unrealistic” and “untimely.”
Alhaji Bala Ibrahim described the call as “dead on arrival,” citing the zone’s comparatively lesser electoral figures compared to regions like the North West.
The North Central would not see the vice presidency or the presidency as entitlement, especially with its comparatively lower share in elections,” he added.
“Those are untimely discussions that should be postponed until President Tinubu has finished his first term.”.
