The Office of the Vice President has clarified comments made by Vice President Kashim Shettima regarding the support President Bola Tinubu received from northern governors ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary in 2022.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Vice President’s office explained that Shettima’s reference to six northern governors who backed Tinubu was specifically related to political consultations and alignments that took place before the APC presidential primary held in June 2022.
According to the statement, the remarks were not intended to reflect the position of northern APC governors after Tinubu emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, nor were they meant to diminish their contributions to his successful 2023 presidential election campaign.
The Vice President’s office noted that following Tinubu’s victory at the APC primary, northern governors united behind the party’s candidate and played significant roles in the campaign efforts that culminated in his election as president.
It further stressed that the endorsement of Tinubu by northern governors during the party’s primary process became a pivotal moment that helped consolidate support across the APC and contributed to broader political alignment in favour of the power shift agenda.
The statement emphasized that Shettima holds northern governors and other APC leaders in high regard, acknowledging both their individual and collective contributions to the party’s success and Tinubu’s emergence as president.
“The Vice President regrets any interpretation of his remarks that may have suggested otherwise and hopes this clarification places the comments in their proper context,” the statement said.
The office also expressed appreciation to the Nigerian media for its professionalism and engagement, while urging journalists and media organizations to ensure accuracy and proper context in reporting public statements as political activities ahead of future elections begin to intensify.
The clarification comes amid public discussions over comments attributed to Shettima regarding the role played by northern governors in Tinubu’s emergence as the APC presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general election.
