Presidency Refutes Reports of Shettima Being Denied Access to Aso Villa

Nkwocha reaffirmed that Vice President Shettima remains committed to his constitutional responsibilities and would not be deterred by baseless rumours or politically motivated distractions.

Abuja, Nigeria – The Presidency has firmly debunked circulating claims suggesting that Vice President Kashim Shettima was barred from entering the Presidential Villa in Abuja, describing the reports as “false, mischievous, and entirely fabricated.”

In a statement released on Saturday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), the Presidency clarified that no such incident occurred and labeled the claims as a deliberate effort to create disunity within the federal administration.

Nkwocha asserted that the rumour, which made rounds on “obscure blogs,” falsely alleged that military personnel had blocked the Vice President from gaining entry to the Villa. He dismissed the narrative as “the wildest expression of wishful thinking,” aimed at misleading the public and manufacturing a rift between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.

“It is a feeble attempt to traduce the person and office of His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON. For the record, nothing of the sort ever happened,” the statement read.

He emphasized that such disinformation campaigns have become a recurring tactic by mischief-makers who continue to underestimate the unity and mutual respect between the President and his deputy. According to Nkwocha, these efforts are intended to distract the Vice President and cast aspersions on the harmony within the government.

The statement also pointed to a similar falsehood recently debunked — involving alleged campaign posters bearing President Tinubu’s image — as evidence of the growing trend of misinformation targeted at the presidency.

Nkwocha reaffirmed that Vice President Shettima remains committed to his constitutional responsibilities and would not be deterred by baseless rumours or politically motivated distractions. He called on the public to disregard such reports and advised journalists and media platforms to verify information from credible sources before publication.

“These fairy tales serve no purpose beyond mischief and distraction,” he said. “No amount of falsehood will undermine the democratic mandate or the good working relationship between the President and the Vice President.”