The National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mustapha Salihu, has firmly rejected ongoing speculation about tensions between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, describing such rumors as inevitable but unfounded.
Speaking during a Monday interview on Channels Television, Salihu addressed persistent claims that Shettima has been marginalized within the current administration. The speculation has centered on allegations that the Vice President feels sidelined, particularly regarding President Tinubu’s handling of power transmission during extended overseas trips and Shettima’s apparent absence from events where endorsements for Tinubu’s potential second term are announced.
The rumors have intensified amid suggestions that President Tinubu might be considering a different running mate for the 2027 presidential election, with critics pointing to Shettima’s limited visibility at key political gatherings as evidence of growing discord within the administration’s leadership structure.
However, Salihu dismissed these concerns as the work of politically insecure individuals seeking to create division where none exists. He emphasized that party administration operates through internal mechanisms rather than public discourse, stating that such speculation represents nothing more than political noise designed to unsettle the government.
“The administration of a party is not run on social media, newspapers, or television. It’s handled internally,” Salihu explained. “These kinds of rumours are inevitable in every administration—people will always try to suggest friction between the principal and the Vice. It’s what some insecure politicians thrive on. But if you’re secure in yourself, you shouldn’t be bothered by such noise.”
The APC official also pushed back against suggestions of discontent within the North-East region of the party, citing recent collaborative efforts among party members from various states in the zone. He referenced his recent engagement with representatives from Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, and Yobe states, describing productive overnight brainstorming sessions ahead of a recent political summit as evidence of regional unity within the party structure.
Salihu’s comments represent the latest attempt by APC leadership to quell speculation about internal divisions, as the party seeks to maintain a unified front ahead of future electoral challenges.
