Presidency Reacts to Report of Shettima Being Barred from Aso Villa

The Presidency has dismissed as false and mischievous the reports circulating online that Vice President Kashim Shettima was denied access to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

In a statement released on Saturday, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), described the claims as “totally fabricated” and an attempt to falsely suggest a rift between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.

According to Nkwocha, the report—which alleged that military personnel barricaded the Villa entrance to prevent Shettima from entering—originated from “obscure blogs” and should be viewed as a deliberate effort to mislead the public. He condemned the story as “a feeble attempt to traduce the person and office of His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima,” stating clearly that “nothing of the sort ever happened.”

He further criticised the report as “the wildest expression of wishful thinking” and accused its authors of trying to sow discord within the government. Nkwocha insisted that the bond between the President and Vice President remains strong, and that mischief-makers have once again relied on misinformation and questionable sources to push their agenda.

The statement also referenced a similar rumour earlier in the week involving campaign posters featuring Tinubu’s image, which was also swiftly debunked by the Presidency. Nkwocha assured Nigerians that the Vice President remains focused on his responsibilities and would not be distracted by attempts to create false narratives.

He called on the public to disregard the report and urged journalists to confirm information from credible sources. He added that no amount of falsehood would derail the democratic mandate of the Tinubu administration.