A meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in the North-East region descended into chaos on Sunday when prominent party leaders endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027 while conspicuously omitting Vice-President Kashim Shettima from their speeches.
The high-profile gathering in Gombe State, which brought together APC governors, ministers, lawmakers, and other influential leaders from the region, turned volatile after National Vice Chairman (North-East) Comrade Mustapha Salihu openly declared support for Tinubu as the party's sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Notably, Salihu made no mention of Vice-President Shettima, who hails from Borno State in the North-East. This omission triggered immediate outrage among delegates, with some reportedly shouting and threatening physical confrontation, forcing security operatives to escort Salihu out of the venue.
Attempts to Calm Tensions Fail
In an apparent effort to defuse the situation, APC Deputy National Chairman (North) Bukar Dalori took the podium and expressed support for both Tinubu and Shettima to pursue a joint second term. However, the controversy intensified when APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje also failed to acknowledge Shettima during his nearly 10-minute speech endorsing Tinubu.
Like Salihu before him, Ganduje reportedly required heavy security escort to exit the venue as discontent spread among party loyalists. According to sources, the meeting ended abruptly as arguments erupted over the leadership's failure to recognize the Vice President.
Video evidence cited by BenriNews showed heated exchanges and visible tension as the gathering dissolved into disorder.
Earlier Controversy
This incident comes just days after Daniel Musa, an APC chieftain from Taraba State, criticized the party's North-East Zonal Coordinator and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, for scheduling an important party meeting on Sunday morning—a time traditionally reserved for Christian worship.
The back-to-back controversies highlight growing tensions within the ruling party as positioning for the 2027 election cycle begins to take shape, with particular strain evident in the relationship between the President and his Vice President.
Political analysts suggest this public snub of Shettima could signal deeper divisions within the APC's power structure, especially concerning succession plans and regional power balance.
Neither the Presidency nor the Office of the Vice President has issued an official statement regarding the incident as of press time.
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