A senior All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Cletus Obun, has dismissed speculation that the ruling party is considering removing Vice President Kashim Shettima from President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 ticket, describing such reports as politically motivated and unfounded.
Speaking in an interview with Arise News on Wednesday, Obun stated that the APC has not held any discussions about altering the Tinubu–Shettima pairing and emphasised that such conversations are premature.
His words: “I don’t want to give veracity and authenticity to that kind of speculative story.
“Nobody in APC has ever contemplated a discussion on that matter, ” Obun said.
He added that the party is currently focused on governance and addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges, rather than being distracted by rumours about future candidacies.
According to him, “What we are into now as a political party is to deal with issues of governance and the very turbulent issues facing Nigeria today
“We cannot be discussing candidacy even before the primaries, not even to talk about conventions and congresses, ” he said.
Obun also accused those circulating the speculation of acting out of mischief and ill will toward the country, stressing that there is no factual basis for calls to alter the current ticket.
Defending Shettima, he praised the Vice President’s intellectual capacity, political experience, and performance in office, insisting that he remains a key asset to the administration.
“Nobody in this country, if you put them on a debate with any of the presidential candidates that were paraded last time, can come near Kashim Shettima by pedigree or intellectual urbanity,” Obun said.
Recalling the controversy that surrounded the Muslim–Muslim ticket during the 2023 elections, Obun noted that many initial critics have since become supporters of the APC.
“Those who paraded the issue of Muslim–Muslim ticket before, where are they today? They are now the hallelujah singers and cheerleaders in APC, jubilating with us over the decision that was taken,” he said.
Obun further said the party is prioritising internal cohesion, repositioning, and delivery on key governance issues, citing insecurity, education, and infrastructure as top priorities.
He noted that APC would not be distracted by rumours or speculative debates about the 2027 elections, noting that discussions on future candidacy would only occur at the appropriate time in accordance with party processes and constitutional provisions.
