Vice President Kashim Shettima has accused opposition parties of relying on “lies and hypocrisy” to remain relevant, asserting that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is now politically stronger than it was during the 2023 general elections.
Shettima spoke at an interfaith breaking of fast for Ramadan and Lent at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, March 5, 2026, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He urged party loyalists and leaders to rally behind the administration ahead of the 2027 polls.
“Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the political season is around the corner. We are all political actors. We have to sell our government. We have to stand behind our administration,” he said.
Shettima criticised the opposition’s stance on electronic transmission of election results, pointing to flaws in their recent online membership registration.
“The same people who were adamant that we must have electronic transmission of votes opened their portal for membership registration, and it was flooded with fake names and fictitious identities,” he stated.
He accused the opposition of using misinformation as a core strategy.
“You and I know that, as Winston Churchill once said, ‘truth is so precious that it must be surrounded by a bodyguard of lies.’ Lies, lies, lies — that is what is driving the opposition in this country,” Shettima added.
He maintained that the APC is in a more comfortable position now than in 2023.
On recent defections, Shettima dismissed claims of coercion.
“Nobody is coercing the governors of Rivers, Delta, Kano or any other state to join the APC. It is at their own volition because they have seen the light,” he said.
The Vice President’s remarks come amid growing defections to the APC, which now controls 30 of Nigeria’s 36 governorships.
