By Jane Okafor, Abeokuta
Worried by the growing waves of media reports about possible replacement of Vice President Kashim Shettima as the running mate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections, the party has called on serving Ministers, senior government and party officials to eschew acts that could provoke speculations on the subject.
The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, however dismissed such reports and stories as purely speculative, untrue and utterly baseless.
In a statement on Monday, Morka also urged media organizations to refrain from lending their platforms to rumour-peddlers and mischievous “news sources,” whom he labelled as people of questionable provenance and whose only intention is promoting discord and confusion in the nation’s polity.
He emphasized that the APC remained strictly focused on supporting President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in delivering the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and entrenching its bold reforms, which he added, were steadily transforming the economy, building prosperity, and uplifting the living conditions of Nigerians.
He stated, “Our attention has been drawn to growing media frenzy about possible replacement of Vice President Kashim Shettima as the running mate to President Bola Tinubu under the platform of our great Party ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
“While these stories have been mostly subtle, they recently assumed a new dimension when names of specific individuals were touted as possible replacement for Vice President Shettima.
“Our Party states in categorical terms that the stories are purely speculative, untrue and utterly baseless.
“We urge media organizations to refrain from lending their platforms to rumour-peddlers and mischievous “news sources” of questionable provenance whose only intention is to promote discord and confusion in the polity.
“Under our laws and electoral regulations, the ban on political activities remains in force. At this time, our Party remains focused on supporting President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in delivering the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and entrenching its bold reforms that are now steadily transforming the economy, building prosperity, and uplifting the living conditions of our people.
“We call on our ministers, senior government and Party officials to avoid, wittingly or unwittingly, stoking needless speculations, and to focus on their primary duty of diligent service to government and our Party, and bolster the success and achievements of President Tinubu, our inimitable and visionary leader.”
