The Presidency has debunked claims of a rift between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, describing the speculation as unfounded and the product of political mischief.
Reacting to recent controversies surrounding the omission of Vice President Shettima from some endorsements for President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said there is no conflict whatsoever between the two leaders.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Trust, Mr Onanuga described the rumoured tension as “beer parlour gossip,” noting that both Tinubu and Shettima enjoy an “excellent working relationship” based on mutual respect and shared commitment to the administration’s vision for the country.
“I’m not aware of any issues between the president and the vice president,” Onanuga stated. “From what I know, they have an excellent working relationship. All the speculation is just beer parlour gossip. People even say ridiculous things like Seyi Tinubu is the vice president—absolute nonsense.”
He emphasised that in Nigeria’s presidential system, a running mate is chosen only after the party’s convention and formal nomination of the presidential candidate, dismissing insinuations that Shettima’s political future is in doubt.
“In a presidential system, the candidate emerges first and then selects a running mate. That’s what happened under Buhari—he was nominated first and later picked his running mate. You don’t do both at once,” he explained.
Mr Onanuga also pushed back against attempts to read a political pattern into President Tinubu’s past as governor of Lagos State, where he had two different deputies. He clarified that those were circumstantial developments and not indicators of a leadership style.
“It’s wrong to say he has a pattern of discarding deputies. There were specific political circumstances each time. That’s what I’m explaining,” he said.
The remarks come amid growing speculation sparked by the omission of Vice President Shettima from recent endorsements during political gatherings, including the APC National Summit and the North East Stakeholders’ Meeting in Gombe. However, the presidency insists that these endorsements are preliminary political expressions and not reflective of any internal dispute.
But the Presidency, through Mr Onanuga, also rejected attempts to reignite religious controversy over the Muslim-Muslim ticket, describing such concerns as outdated and unfounded.
“Christians are living their lives. The president even attended the Pope’s inauguration in Rome. There’s nothing to worry about,” Mr Onanuga said.
In the face of premature political permutations and conflicting reports, the presidency however said decisions about the 2027 ticket would follow due process within the party’s constitutional framework and will be made at the appropriate time.
“There’s no feud, no fallout. What exists between Tinubu and Shettima is a partnership rooted in loyalty, shared vision, and results. The stories of a conflict are fabrications aimed at stirring unnecessary controversy,” Mr Onanuga concluded.
As the administration continues its governance agenda, the presidency urged Nigerians to focus on facts, not fiction, and to resist narratives designed to sow discord where none exists.
NAN
