The Presidency has officially denied widespread claims alleging that Vice President Kashim Shettima was prevented from accessing the Presidential Villa.
In a statement issued on Saturday morning, Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, firmly dismissed the report as entirely false and misleading. He described it as a deliberate attempt to sow confusion and portray internal discord within the country’s highest office.
“For the record, nothing of the sort ever happened,” Nkwocha stated, categorizing the allegations as part of a coordinated campaign of disinformation.
He emphasized that recent publications suggesting armed military personnel blocked Vice President Shettima from entering the villa were “the wildest expression of wishful thinking,” and stressed that such claims were completely detached from reality.
According to Nkwocha, these rumors are being fueled by obscure online platforms and individuals seeking to mislead the public. He added that only those unfamiliar with the structure and operations of the Nigerian government would lend credence to such stories.
Furthermore, the Presidency reiterated the strong relationship between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, stating that efforts to undermine their unity and cooperation are futile.
“These narratives serve no meaningful purpose other than to distract and spread mischief,” the statement added.
In a related matter, the Presidency also addressed false reports regarding campaign posters allegedly linked to the 2027 elections. It maintained that neither President Tinubu nor Vice President Shettima authorized such materials, dismissing them as further evidence of attempts to erode public trust in the administration.
Background on NAHCON Controversy
Vice President Shettima recently raised concerns about the conduct of Professor Abdullahi Saleh-Usman, Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). In a formal letter, Shettima accused the chairman of violating procurement procedures, appointing aides without due process, and sidelining commission members. Prof. Saleh-Usman was appointed by President Tinubu in August 2024.
*STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT*
*RE: MISCHIEVOUS REPORT ON ACCESS TO THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA BY VICE PRESIDENT KASHIM SHETTIMA, GCON*
In recent times, there has been deliberate and well-planned orchestration of falsehood against the Vice President’s person and office in many… pic.twitter.com/l6vMLOoRbJ
— Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) April 19, 2025
