ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian presidency has vehemently denied reports suggesting that Vice President Kashim Shettima was barred from entering the Presidential Villa.
In a statement issued on Saturday, April 19, 2025, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, referred to the reports as a “deliberate and well-planned orchestration of falsehoods.”
“These mischievous and totally fabricated reports are all in a bid to cause confusion and insinuate a total clash in the Presidency,” Nkwocha said in the statement.
He stressed that the intention behind the false reports was to mislead the public and suggest discord between President Bola Tinubu and his deputy.
Nkwocha dismissed the claim that armed military units had blocked Shettima from entering the villa, calling it “the wildest expression of wishful thinking” and an indication that the creators of the story had “exhausted both ink and imagination.”
He emphasized that the story was far removed from reality and could only be believed by those unfamiliar with the inner workings of the Nigerian government.
Earlier this week, the presidency also dismissed reports claiming the existence of 2027 campaign posters for Tinubu and Shettima.
“These stories reflect a desperate attempt to undermine the president and his deputy’s fidelity to the rule of law and our constitution,” Nkwocha said.
He further reiterated the strong bond and goodwill between the President and Vice President, pointing out that those spreading such falsehoods continue to underestimate the unity within the government.
“Their questionable sources or habitual reliance on misinformation have once again led them astray,” he added.
Nkwocha stated that Shettima remains focused on his duties and is not distracted by these fabricated claims.
“He does not have the luxury of time for distractions, particularly those born of the imagination of individuals intent on creating smoke where there is no fire,” Nkwocha concluded, adding that Shettima would not participate in any media circus created by the reports.
The statement concluded by urging the public to disregard such misinformation and for journalists to ensure the accuracy of the information they publish.
“This we owe ourselves collectively as a nation,” Nkwocha said, affirming the legitimacy and constitutional foundation of the administration’s mandate.
In a separate development, the Borno State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for Shettima to remain as Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 election, signaling continued support for the Vice President in the coming political cycle.
