Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has denied rumours of a rift between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, describing them as “unfounded” and “existing only in the minds of those who want to believe them.”
Speaking on Wednesday during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Idris said the speculation has no basis in reality. “I have been in the rooms where the President and the Vice President are; I have seen them working closely together,” he said. “They are good friends; they’ve come a long way.”
No Rift Between Tinubu and Shettima, Says Idris
The denial followed reports and online discussions suggesting that Shettima may be dropped from the ticket ahead of the 2027 general election. This speculation intensified after the recent APC North-East summit in Gombe, where the party’s Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, publicly endorsed President Tinubu for a second term—without mentioning Shettima.
The omission led to confusion and backlash, with many interpreting it as a sign of internal division. But Salihu later clarified his statement, saying, “There’s only one ticket — President. Endorsing Tinubu with conditions would have been inappropriate.”
No Rift Between Tinubu and Shettima, Party Leaders Insist
Echoing the same sentiment, a former APC Board of Trustees member, Ismaeel Ahmed, described the claims of a rift as “malicious rumours.” According to him, there is no discontent between the President and Vice President, and attempts to create division are politically motivated.
On May 22, 2025, the APC made its position clear when 22 state governors unanimously adopted President Tinubu as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election. However, Shettima’s absence from the endorsement speech fuelled further questions.
Despite this, Idris maintained that there is no rift between the two leaders. “I have not seen any indication that the President is desirous of dropping the Vice President,” he reiterated.
No Rift Between Tinubu and Shettima, Says Minister
The federal government has firmly stated there is no rift between Tinubu and Shettima. As questions continue to swirl ahead of 2027, Mohammed Idris’s message is clear: “There is no feud, just the imagination of those pushing rumours.”
