GOMBE, NIGERIA — Tensions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) escalated over the weekend following a violent outburst at a stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe State, sparked by growing rumours that Vice President Kashim Shettima may be dropped as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 general election.
The gathering of APC North-East leaders, held on Sunday at the International Conference Centre in Gombe, descended into chaos after the party’s Zonal Vice Chairman, Mustapha Salihu, failed to acknowledge Shettima during his endorsement speech for Tinubu’s re-election.
Viral footage from the event showed an enraged delegate hurling a chair at Salihu, while another flung a plastic bucket as he attempted to flee the stage. The meeting, intended to consolidate support for Tinubu’s 2027 bid, instead highlighted simmering divisions within the party’s North-East bloc.
Anger Over Omission
Salihu’s address focused on backing President Tinubu as the APC’s sole presidential candidate but omitted any mention of Vice President Shettima as his running mate. This omission immediately drew loud chants of “Shettima! Shettima!!” from aggrieved delegates, particularly from Borno State, Shettima’s political base.
“This is an insult to the entire region,” fumed one delegate. “Our son is the Vice President and should not be sidelined. We will resist this with everything we have.”
Efforts by Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Bukar Dalori, to restore calm failed as the chants intensified and some delegates physically confronted Salihu. The event was abruptly halted, and security operatives were forced to intervene, firing teargas outside the venue to disperse an increasingly volatile crowd.
Governors Back Joint Ticket — But Discord Remains
Before the commotion, governors from APC-controlled North-East states — Babagana Zulum (Borno), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), and Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) — had endorsed the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in their speeches.
Governor Yahaya declared, “The North-East is fully behind the President and the Vice President. Their leadership has brought renewed hope to this region.”
However, his failure to specifically mention Shettima during his closing remarks raised eyebrows and added fuel to speculation of a possible rift.
Similarly, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, while stressing unity and praising the North-East for its electoral support in 2023, only vaguely referenced the Vice President, saying: “We are proud of the North and of the number two citizen from this zone. It is one ticket according to the Constitution.”
Ganduje’s ambiguity did little to pacify delegates. Chants of “No Shettima, no APC in the North-East!” erupted again, with some party leaders threatening to defect to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if Shettima is removed.
“If Shettima is dropped, I will personally lead my people to vote for Atiku,” warned a senior APC chieftain from Adamawa State.
Widening Party Fault Lines
Speaking to reporters, Usman Aliyu, Director-General of Borno’s Great Green Wall agency, accused Mustapha Salihu of harboring a hidden agenda.
“This was a slap in our face,” Aliyu said. “He failed to endorse our son, the Vice President. That is not a mistake, that’s a message.”
Aliyu insisted that a communiqué would be issued to affirm Tinubu and Shettima as the joint ticket for 2027, underscoring the Vice President’s grassroots support in the North-East.
Adding to the uncertainty, the host Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s silence on Shettima was described by some as “strategic neutrality,” though sources claim he privately opposes the joint ticket.
Despite the uproar, four out of five North-East members of the APC National Working Committee — including Dalori, Mohammad Kumo (Deputy Financial Secretary), Zainab Ibrahim (Deputy Women Leader), and Abubakar Maikafi (National Auditor) — have expressed their support for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket. Only Salihu has so far refrained from doing so.
National Leaders Attempt Damage Control
Amid the fallout, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), dismissed the controversy as political noise. “There’s a solid working relationship between Tinubu and Shettima,” he said, calling rumours of Shettima’s exclusion “pre-emptive speculation.”
Presidential aide Daniel Bwala also denied any knowledge of a plan to remove Shettima, telling reporters, “I am not aware, Sir.”
Nonetheless, insider sources allege that party powerbrokers are considering replacing Shettima with a “more influential” northern figure in a move to bolster Tinubu’s 2027 electoral prospects. These claims remain unverified.
The controversy erupted shortly after 22 APC governors and National Assembly leaders unanimously endorsed President Tinubu as the party’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 election during the APC National Summit at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
While the endorsement triggered celebration in many quarters, it also exposed fault lines within the party, particularly in the North-East.
What Next?
As APC leaders attempt to contain the backlash, questions remain over whether the party will maintain a unified front heading into the 2027 polls.
Political analyst James Abass told The PUNCH: “This isn’t just a misunderstanding. It’s a sign of deeper internal divisions that, if left unresolved, could lead to defections or even a counter-movement.”
Observers say the Gombe incident may be the first public glimpse of a larger power struggle unfolding within the APC — one that could define the trajectory of the 2027 presidential race.