The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has denied reports suggesting he has been chosen as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
Yilwatda made the clarification during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, describing the rumours as baseless and misleading. He also dismissed claims that the party is considering dropping Vice President Kashim Shettima, calling the speculation “raising dust where there is no dust at all.”
“Not true. Nobody is discussing anything about the issue of the vice president,” he said.
The APC chairman explained that discussions around a vice-presidential candidate can only occur after the party’s presidential primary has been concluded. “The issue of candidature comes after the primary election. It is after that the party and the candidate will sit down to select and nominate a running mate,” Yilwatda stated.
He added that the rumours were being fueled by opposition forces aiming to distract the ruling party and insisted that no conversation regarding his nomination has taken place within the APC.
“I laugh when I hear it. There is nothing like that at all. Nothing has been discussed,” he said, recalling that he had previously advised APC political appointees and elected officials against commenting on vice-presidential matters.