Bala Ibrahim Dismisses Speculations on Shettima’s Position as Overhyped and Divisive

The issue surrounding the removal of Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s photo from a party banner has been rejected by Bala Ibrahim, National Director of Publicity for the All Progressives Congress (APC), as needless and motivated by malice.

In a phone interview with Daily Trust, Ibrahim characterized the conjecture regarding the Vice-President’s political prospects as inflated and intended to incite conflict inside the Presidency.

Before you reach the bridge, you don’t discuss crossing a river. He claimed that the rumors about the vice president’s role were exaggerated, full of mischief, and meant to cause a wedge within the presidency.

Ibrahim emphasized that the Constitution acknowledges a single presidency and clarified that the Vice-President’s post serves mainly as constitutional cover in the event that the President is unable to carry out his responsibilities.

“The Vice President has never voiced complaints about being ignored or left out. As talks about the 2027 general elections heat up, he continued, “It is troublemakers who are creating a storm in a teacup.” He urged party members to exhibit moderation.

Protest Is Sparked by Banner Omission
After Shettima’s picture was left off of a poster at a significant party event in Maiduguri, Borno State, the APC spokesperson’s response coincides with fresh internal concerns inside the ruling party regarding Shettima’s political future ahead of 2027.

Governors, party leaders, and other regional stakeholders attended the North-East zonal public hearing on proposed revisions to the APC constitution on Monday when the event took place.

The Vice-President, who is from Borno State, was noticeably left out of the banner, which included pictures of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the five APC governors from the Northeast, and the party’s National Legal Advisor.

Abdulkarim Lawan, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, immediately protested the deletion, calling it unjust, inflammatory, and untimely.

Speaking during the event, Lawan urged organizers to be aware of the sensitivities surrounding party unity in the area and cautioned that such efforts could revive unresolved fault lines within the ruling party.