A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has strongly criticized several All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders for sidelining Vice President Kashim Shettima during an event organized to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027.
The endorsement meeting, held on Sunday in the North-East region, descended into chaos after prominent party figures, including APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and North-East zonal leader Mustapha Salihu, failed to acknowledge Vice President Shettima in their speeches.
Protests Erupt at Endorsement Event
Delegates and party members present at the gathering expressed their displeasure by disrupting the event in protest of the vice president's omission. The situation was only brought under control after Bukar Dalori, the Deputy National Vice Chairman (North-East), intervened by mounting the podium and acknowledging Vice President Shettima.
Reacting to the incident on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Ahmad, who served as an aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, warned that deliberately excluding the vice president from such conversations could potentially damage the unity of the ruling party.
"Those deliberately mentioning President Tinubu's name in the context of 2027 while conveniently ignoring his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, are not acting in the best interest of our great party, the APC," Ahmad wrote.
He further emphasized the importance of recognizing the joint nature of the presidency, stating: "In politics, both what is said and what is left unsaid can be interpreted in many different ways. What we know is that it is a BAT/KSM joint ticket."
Growing Tensions Within APC
This incident highlights potential divisions within the ruling party as it begins early preparations for the 2027 general elections. Reports indicate that Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum led the protest over the endorsement of President Tinubu without the inclusion of Vice President Shettima, who hails from Borno State.
The controversy comes at a time when the APC appears to be strengthening its position in some states, with recent reports of defections from opposition parties, particularly in Lagos where several PDP leaders have reportedly joined the ruling party.
Political analysts suggest that the handling of this situation could have significant implications for APC's internal cohesion and its strategy for maintaining power beyond the current administration.
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