A major crisis is brewing in Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum led a protest on Sunday following the party's controversial endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for reelection in 2027 without including Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The incident occurred during a North-East stakeholders meeting in Gombe where APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, publicly endorsed Tinubu for a second term but notably failed to acknowledge Shettima, who hails from Borno State in the North-East region.

According to reports, the meeting descended into chaos as delegates protested the omission, forcing Ganduje and Salihu to be escorted out of the venue under heavy security protection.

Brewing Political Tensions

Public affairs analyst Abdul-Aziz Na'ibi Abubakar described the development as potentially catastrophic for the ruling party, stating: "The beginning of the APC's downfall has just begun as Governor Zulum led a protest against the APC North-East meeting for failing to endorse Kashim Shettima ahead of 2027!"

This latest controversy follows a pattern of tension within the party. BenriNews previously reported growing unease in the North-East after APC stalwarts endorsed Tinubu while conspicuously leaving out Shettima.

Last month, APC chairman Abdullahi Ganduje had already announced at the party's national summit in Abuja that Tinubu would be the sole presidential candidate in 2027, a move that appears to have sidelined discussions about the vice-presidential ticket.

Wider Political Implications

The timing of this internal crisis is particularly significant as it comes just days after President Tinubu, in his Democracy Day remarks at the National Assembly last Thursday, mocked opposition parties for being in disarray.

Political observers note that this development could potentially fracture the ruling party's unity in the North-East, a region that contributed significantly to APC's electoral success in previous elections.

As the situation unfolds, questions remain about how the APC leadership will address this growing rift and whether it signals deeper divisions within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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