Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, has dismissed claims suggesting a rift between the President and Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Onanuga described as baseless the recent speculation that President Tinubu intends to replace Shettima as his running mate ahead of the 2027 general election.
The rumours intensified following the omission of Vice President Shettima’s name during the recent endorsement of President Tinubu for a second term by North-East stakeholders in Gombe. The omission sparked tension at the event, with some delegates voicing concern over the absence of Shettima’s mention.
Onanuga, however, downplayed the controversy, labelling it a “non-issue”. He explained that in a presidential system, it is standard for the presidential candidate to emerge first before a running mate is selected.
He said, “That’s what happened under Buhari. He was nominated first, and only afterwards was his running mate chosen. You don’t do both at the same time. Once INEC releases the timetable, the party convention will take place, and if the President is nominated again, he will then pick his running mate.”
Addressing the wider speculation of friction between the President and the Vice President, Onanuga referred to the claims as mere “beer parlour gossip” and stated he was not aware of any such tension.
“That’s just speculation,” he said. “Yes, when he was governor, there were issues. In his first term, he and his deputy, Kofo, did not get along, and she had to leave. Femi Pedro replaced her. In the second term, he retained Pedro, but Pedro later defected because he wanted to be governor.
“That is why he had to go. I do not want to reopen old wounds, but that is what happened.”
Onanuga rejected suggestions that President Tinubu has a history of sidelining his deputies.
He stated, “It is inaccurate to say he has a pattern of discarding deputies. Each instance was shaped by unique political circumstances. That is what I am explaining.”
He also dismissed as absurd the rumour that President Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, functions as a de facto vice president.
“People even say ridiculous things like Seyi Tinubu is the Vice President. Absolute nonsense. In this country, deputy roles, whether as deputy governors or vice presidents, are always surrounded by rumours. Even when there is no conflict, people around them manufacture stories,” Onanuga said.
“But as far as I know, Tinubu and Shettima work together very well.”