Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on political matters, has expressed concern over the president’s failure to directly address persistent rumours about plans to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 election.
The political analyst made these remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” program on Wednesday.
Baba-Ahmed, who resigned from his government position three months ago, argued that if the speculation was truly insignificant as claimed by presidential spokespersons, President Tinubu should have personally dismissed the rumours to put the matter to rest.
“I would be very curious to find out what it is that makes all these stories about dropping him (Shettima),” Baba-Ahmed stated. “I think, somewhere along the line, to be honest, the President should have done something a long time ago.”
The controversy began in June when presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga described the speculation as a “non-issue,” stating that any decision about running mates would only be made after President Tinubu accepts the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination for a second term.
However, Baba-Ahmed believes the prolonged silence from the presidency has allowed the rumours to gain unnecessary traction and create political uncertainty.
Political observers note that such speculation, if left unaddressed, could potentially strain the relationship between the president and vice president while creating divisions within the ruling party.
Baba-Ahmed’s comments highlight growing concerns about the administration’s communication strategy and its handling of sensitive political matters that could impact the party’s cohesion ahead of the next election cycle.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
