Tensions Soar As Datti Baba-Ahmed Calls For Shettima’s Sack — Presidency Reacts Fiercely

The Presidency has responded strongly to recent remarks made by Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, following his call for the removal of Vice President Kashim Shettima.

In a statement issued on Friday, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), dismissed Baba-Ahmed’s comments as nothing more than “obsessive vituperation” and “beer parlour gossip.”

Nkwocha was reacting to Baba-Ahmed’s interview on Arise Television, during which the LP chieftain questioned Shettima’s continued tenure in office and advocated for the formation of an opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.

“In the interview, Baba-Ahmed voiced frustration over why the President has not removed the Vice President, even though he provided no evidence of wrongdoing. His motivation appears to be personal rather than grounded in any constitutional basis,” Nkwocha stated. “Unfortunately for him, this is just the beginning of his frustrations.”

Nkwocha also referenced Baba-Ahmed’s political past, particularly the 2011 court ruling that overturned his senatorial victory and reinstated former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, suggesting it was a result of electoral malpractice.

He accused Baba-Ahmed of veering dangerously close to advocating unconstitutional actions after the Labour Party’s 2023 election loss, labeling his rhetoric as a sign of “desperate ambition.”

Defending Vice President Shettima, Nkwocha described him as a “loyal, competent, and intellectually sound leader,” noting his unbroken record of electoral success and service in key public roles including banker, commissioner, governor, senator, and now Vice President—all attained through merit.

“Shettima remains a steadfast partner to President Bola Tinubu and a strong promoter of the administration’s agenda both at home and internationally,” Nkwocha said.

He concluded by warning that the office of the Vice President would no longer remain silent in the face of baseless attacks, stating, “Going forward, such unfounded criticisms from opposition figures will not go unanswered.”