Baba-Ahmed stated that Tinubu ought to have directly denied the supposed intention to remove Shettima.

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former presidential adviser and respected elder, stated that it would have been preferable for President Bola Tinubu to address the rumors regarding his potential decision to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima before the 2027 elections.

During a discussion on the Channels Television program Politics Today, Baba-Ahmed shared his unease about the ongoing speculation concerning a shift in Tinubu’s choice of running mate for the upcoming election.

“I find it intriguing to understand what fuels these claims about removing [Shettima],” he remarked. “Honestly, I believe the President should have acted sooner regarding this matter.”

He mentioned that the circulating rumors, which imply that Shettima could be succeeded by another vice presidential candidate from the north—possibly a Christian or an individual from a different region—might have been easily dispelled had the President made a straightforward and strong statement.

“If the rumors about replacing the Vice President with someone else, perhaps another Northern candidate, a Christian, or from anywhere else, hold no truth at all, it would only take one action: for the President to directly declare, ‘This is nonsense. I trust my Vice President, we collaborate well, and I want any gossip about removing him to cease, both now and in the future.’

“I will decide on my running mate for 2027 when the time comes. For now, we have work to do. However, he hasn’t said that, nor has his team,” he pointed out.

Even though presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga dismissed these rumors as a 'non-issue' in June, Baba-Ahmed insisted that the lack of clarification from President Tinubu or his communications team only adds to the confusion and unnecessary political strain.

He cautioned that the absence of a direct response from the presidency is “concerning” and urged President Tinubu to address the situation to prevent distractions from governance.

“If my interpretation aligns with what the president believes, he ought to express it. If he disagrees with my phrasing, he should communicate it in his own way—but it must come from him. It needs to be direct and unmistakable,” he concluded.