The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed studies suggesting that Vice President Kashim Shettima could also be dropped as President Bola Tinubu’s operating mate forward of the 2027 basic elections, describing the claims as “purely speculative, unfaithful and completely baseless.”
The ruling celebration was reacting to rising media hypothesis that it may rethink the Muslim–Muslim ticket that secured its victory within the 2023 presidential election.
In an announcement issued on Monday by its Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC mentioned its consideration had been drawn to what it described as an rising “media frenzy” over an alleged plan to exchange the Vice President.
Morka famous that whereas earlier studies had been delicate, that they had just lately escalated, with particular people being named as attainable replacements for Shettima.
The celebration warned media organisations towards selling unverified claims, urging them to chorus from giving platforms to rumours able to inflicting division and confusion.
“Our celebration states in categorical phrases that these tales are purely speculative, unfaithful and completely baseless,” the assertion learn.
“We urge media organisations to desist from lending their platforms to rumour-peddlers and mischievous ‘information sources’ of questionable provenance whose solely intention is to advertise discord within the polity.”
The APC additionally burdened that political actions stay restricted underneath present legal guidelines and electoral laws, including that the celebration will not be engaged in succession discussions at the moment.
“Below our legal guidelines and electoral laws, the ban on political actions stays in drive,” Morka mentioned, noting that the celebration’s present precedence is governance.
“Presently, our celebration stays centered on supporting President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda, implementing daring reforms which can be reworking the economic system, constructing prosperity, and bettering the dwelling situations of Nigerians.”
The celebration additional cautioned its ministers, senior authorities officers and celebration leaders towards making feedback that might gasoline pointless hypothesis.
“We name on our ministers, senior authorities and celebration officers to keep away from, wittingly or unwittingly, stoking pointless hypothesis and to deal with diligent service to authorities and our celebration,” the assertion added.