The All Progressives Congress has postponed the official unveiling of former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shetima, as its vice presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.
Shetima was meant to have been presented to party members at the APC national Secretariat on Thursday, but the Chairman of the APC Press Corp told reporters the event has been moved forward.
He said a new date will be announced in due time and that the date would probably be sometime next week.
The Press Corp chairman said the directive for the postponement was given by the party’s Deputy National Secretary.
No reason has been given for the decision which comes amid controversy over the choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the party.
However, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has denied a memorandum making the rounds suggesting he asked President Muhammadu Buhari for permission to leave the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The memorandum, dated June 24, 2022 with reference number SH/VP/605/2./0 and titled ‘Permission to resign from APC,’ listed family pressure and other reasons for the alleged decision.
When asked to confirm the authenticity of the alleged memo, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande, described it as fake.
According to him, the language of the author of the memo is not that of Osinbajo, pointing out that his boss would not write a memo so full of errors.
“Where do you people even get these things from? Who gave it to you? Anyways, for the avoidance of doubt, the memo is fake. VP didn’t write any such thing,” he said.
The ‘fake memorandum’ purportedly written and signed by Osinbajo reads: “I have the honour to inform you that for sometime now, I have been having series of meetings and pressure from my immediate family members on some matters. One of the issues borders on my continuous participation on active and partisan politics, and by extension, my continuous membership of our party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“As a father and great member , whom without you, I would not be where I am today, regrettably, I write to seek for your permission to resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress, APC. However, if the timing of this plan is not convenience or acceptable by Your Excellency, I will surely abide by your decision and advice, which I will consider to be the final.
“Please accept the assurances of my highest regards and loyalty.”
