The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been grappling with internal speculation regarding the potential replacement of Vice-President Kashim Shettima on President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ticket for the 2027 presidential election. This fear has recently caused mild turmoil within the ruling party. However, Ismail Ahmed, a prominent chieftain of the APC and former member of its board of trustees (BoT), has firmly refuted these claims, stating that there are no such plans under consideration.

Ahmed addressed the issue during an appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” programme on Tuesday. He unequivocally stated, “There is no discussion about substituting the vice-president. There is no discussion about the vice-president being blocked.” He attributed the widespread apprehension to “malicious rumours” spread by individuals who may not fully comprehend the dynamics of the presidency or the party’s operational protocols.

The situation escalated significantly during an APC stakeholders’ summit held in Gombe on Sunday. The meeting descended into chaos when some party chieftains attempted to endorse President Tinubu for the 2027 election without explicitly including Vice-President Shettima as his running mate. This omission angered aggrieved party members, who vehemently disrupted the proceedings, insisting on Shettima’s indispensable presence on the ticket for 2027. The strong protest ultimately compelled Ali Bukar, the deputy national chairman, to publicly endorse both President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima for a second term.

In explaining the initial reluctance to endorse Shettima alongside Tinubu, Ahmed clarified that it was in strict accordance with existing electoral laws. He emphasized that the APC, as the party in government, is obligated to adhere to the rules set forth by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He highlighted the timeline, noting that the administration has completed two years of its four-year mandate, with one year remaining until the primaries and two years until the general elections, underscoring the party’s commitment to operating within established legal frameworks.