APC Labels VP Replacement Rumors Speculative

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved to douse the rising political flames surrounding the future of Vice President Kashim Shettima. Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, appeared on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, to clarify that any talk of dropping the Vice President ahead of the 2027 general elections is purely premature and speculative.

According to Morka, the current endorsements being showered upon President Bola Tinubu by various party organs and stakeholder groups naturally extend to his second-in-command. He argued that the presidency is a joint ticket, and the party’s satisfaction with the President’s performance inherently reflects a vote of confidence in the Vice President. While the President’s name often dominates the headlines, Morka emphasized that the two leaders operate as a singular electoral unit.

The rumors regarding a potential shake-up at the top of the ticket have been fueled by President Tinubu’s historical political patterns. During his eight-year tenure as the Governor of Lagos State, Tinubu worked with three different deputy governors—Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Femi Pedro, and Abiodun Ogunleye. This history of executive reshuffling has led some analysts to wonder if a similar “Lagos model” might be applied to the national stage as the 2027 deadline approaches.

Morka, however, cautioned against drawing direct parallels between state-level politics and the complexities of the federal presidency. He noted that while the President reserves the constitutional right to choose his running mate, the current synergy between Tinubu and Shettima suggests stability rather than friction. The spokesperson suggested that the President’s past actions in Lagos should not be seen as a fixed blueprint for his decisions in Abuja.

The speculation has not been without its casualties. Recently, an APC stakeholders’ meeting in the North-East descended into chaos after the Vice President’s name was notably omitted from an endorsement motion. This “snub” triggered a wave of concern among Shettima’s supporters, who viewed it as a sign of shifting allegiances within the party’s hierarchy. Names like General Christopher Musa and Bishop Matthew Kukah have even been floated by some as potential wild-card replacements, though these remain entirely unverified.

Despite these internal tremors, the APC leadership maintains that the focus remains on governance rather than the 2027 ballot. Morka reiterated that the party is currently satisfied with the “renewed hope” agenda being driven by the duo. He suggested that the “Muslim-Muslim” ticket, which was a point of heavy contention in 2023, has proven its electoral viability and remains a cornerstone of the party’s national strategy.

As the political season begins to warm up, the APC’s official stance is one of continuity. By labeling the replacement talks as speculative, the party is attempting to close a door that many in the opposition and even some internal factions have been trying to pry open. For now, Shettima remains firmly in his role, with the party’s mouthpiece insisting that a winning team is rarely changed mid-stream.

The conversation around the 2027 ticket is likely to persist as various interest groups jostle for position. However, Morka’s intervention serves as a reminder that in the APC, the final word rests with the “Lion of Bourdillon” himself. Until the President indicates otherwise, the Tinubu-Shettima alliance remains the official path forward for the ruling party.