Presidency blames mischief-makers for false claims of Tinubu, Shettima rift

…says falsehood can’t take away democratic mandate

The Presidency has dismissed rumours of a rift between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, accusing “individuals intent on creating smoke where there is no fire” of deliberately orchestrating false narratives to sow discord within the nation’s highest office.

The rebuttal, issued on Saturday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), condemned what it described as a string of “mischievous and totally fabricated reports” aimed at misleading the public and manufacturing tensions between the President and his deputy.

The statement follows a wave of viral publications, particularly from obscure blogs, alleging that Vice President Shettima had been denied access to the Presidential Villa by armed security operatives—a claim the Presidency labeled as “the wildest expression of wishful thinking.”

“For the record, NOTHING OF THE SORT EVER HAPPENED,” the statement read. 

“This is a feeble attempt to traduce the person and office of His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON.”

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Nkwocha argued that the fabricated stories are the handiwork of those who are both politically desperate and morally indifferent, saying, “These fairy tales they publish serve no purpose beyond mischief and distraction.”

He also noted that the alleged Villa barricade story was not the first of such false narratives, referencing earlier disinformation involving campaign posters and attempts to suggest friction between the two leaders.

“Their questionable sources or habitual reliance on misinformation have once again led them astray,” Nkwocha said, adding that those behind the reports underestimate the “strength of the bond and goodwill” between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.

“The Vice President remains focused on his duties and on supporting the President in achieving the aspirations of Nigerians,” he continued. 

“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.”

The statement urged the public to disregard the “malicious publications” and called on the media to rely on credible sources when reporting on the affairs of the Presidency.

“We commend Nigerians across all divides who continue to express goodwill towards this administration and who have taken it upon themselves to fight the spread of fake news,” Nkwocha said. 

“No amount of falsehood or manufactured tension can shake the foundation of our democratic mandate – not under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.”

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