The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted claims of a rift between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, dismissing speculation that Tinubu is considering a new running mate for the 2027 elections.

Despite Tinubu not formally declaring his bid for a second term, his loyalists and key party stakeholders have begun mobilising support for his re-election.

Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, APC National Director of Publicity, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, dismissed the reports as baseless.

?This is pure speculation without foundation. These are beer-parlour discussions that should not be taken seriously.?

?Even if, for any reason, the president were to consider replacing the vice president, he cannot do so singlehandedly. Such a decision would require extensive consultation with critical stakeholders,? he said.

North Central pushes for presidency or VP slot

Meanwhile, political stakeholders from the North Central geopolitical zone have renewed their call for either the presidency or vice presidency in 2027.

At a press conference in Abuja, representatives from Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kogi, and Kwara states, led by Prof. Nghargbu K?tso, urged major political parties to zone their presidential or vice-presidential tickets to the region.

In a communiqu? issued after their meeting, the stakeholders argued that if APC grants Tinubu the ?right of first refusal? for the presidential ticket, the vice-presidential slot should be allocated to North Central.

Prof. Nghargbu, flanked by other regional leaders, noted that since Nigeria?s return to democracy in 1999, North Central has yet to produce a democratically elected president or vice president.

?Of Nigeria?s six geopolitical zones, only North Central and South East have not occupied the positions of president or vice president in the past 26 years of the Fourth Republic.

?The situation for North Central is even worse than that of the South East, which at least had Dr Alex Ekwueme as vice president from 1979 to 1983,? he said.

He stressed that the region must now demand equal support from other northern zones.

?This is about fairness. We want to be recognised not as mere political adjuncts but as full stakeholders in the ?One North? project,? he said.

APC: North Central?s demand is unrealistic

Reacting to the demand, APC?s Bala Ibrahim dismissed it as unrealistic and ?dead on arrival?.

?The North Central should not see the presidency or vice presidency as a right, especially given its relatively lower electoral contribution compared to zones like the North West.

?They have made similar demands in the past, but these are often irrational and only serve to create unnecessary political tension,? Ibrahim told Daily Trust.

He argued that discussions about zoning should not even arise now, as Tinubu has yet to complete his first term.

?The current occupant of the presidency must be given the chance to serve two terms. Conversations about zoning should only happen after that,? he said. (Daily Trust)

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