I bet both the AVP and the VP are advocating for you. I don't think the AVP would have phrased the bit about the advocate the way she did if she was talking about herself...

Do you think you are being invited to these meetings for an opportunity to demo your ability to handle the new role? TBH, everything you are saying makes me think you are going to get this promotion. I hope they hire someone to take over your current workload so you don't have to do two jobs. I'm sorry you have to wait so long to find out... but it's kind of awesome to directly hear how valuable you are.