The Presidency has refuted circulating claims suggesting that Vice President Kashim Shettima was denied access to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, describing the reports as entirely false and a deliberate attempt to stir division.
In a statement released on Saturday, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), dismissed the allegation as baseless and misleading.
According to him, the report, which emerged from what he described as “fringe blogs,” was fabricated to create the false impression of a strained relationship between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his deputy.
The statement, titled “Re: Mischievous Report On Access To The Presidential Villa By Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON”, noted that the Vice President was never prevented from entering the Villa, contrary to the report that claimed military personnel had blocked his access.
Nkwocha characterized the allegation as a poor attempt to malign both the person and the office of the Vice President.
He described the claims as “the wildest expression of wishful thinking,” saying they were clearly designed to spark unnecessary controversy within the government.
He stressed that there is a strong, cordial relationship between the President and the Vice President, which remains unaffected by any attempts to sow discord.
According to him, the bond between the two leaders is both solid and enduring, and not something that false reports can weaken.
The statement also referenced similar falsehoods recently circulated, including fake campaign posters featuring President Tinubu, which the Presidency had earlier debunked.
Nkwocha assured Nigerians that Vice President Shettima remains fully committed to his responsibilities and will not be distracted by what he called the fabrications of those seeking to cause confusion.
He urged citizens to disregard the misleading report and advised media professionals to verify information from credible sources before publication.
He concluded by stating that no amount of misinformation would derail the mandate of the current administration.