Chief Oliver Okpala, Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has strongly condemned the violent incident that occurred at the party’s North East stakeholders meeting held in Gombe State on Sunday. In a statement released in Abuja and made available to Vanguard, Okpala described the event, which included thuggery and disruptive behavior, as irresponsible, shameful, and completely unpatriotic, especially in a political environment striving for progress and unity.
The meeting, which was intended to foster cohesion and support within the party, ended abruptly due to escalating tensions. The controversy stemmed from the exclusion of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s name in a motion endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027. While various APC zones have been pledging support for Tinubu’s re-election, the North East meeting turned chaotic when Comrade Mustapha Salihu, the Zonal Vice Chairman, announced Tinubu as the sole candidate, without recognizing the vice president’s role.
As the atmosphere grew tense, top party leaders, including National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje and several governors, were hurriedly escorted out of the venue for safety. Although Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Bukar Dalori, tried to ease tensions by acknowledging the vice president, his efforts fell flat. Ganduje’s clarification that Tinubu and Shettima were elected on a joint ticket was reportedly ignored by some aggrieved party members, who were determined to confront him.
Okpala emphasized that the violent disruption represented not only a personal attack on Dr. Ganduje but also an affront to the leadership of the APC as a whole. He warned that such behavior could dangerously mirror the political unrest of Nigeria’s First Republic, which contributed to national instability. He stressed that politics should be rooted in dialogue, persuasion, and respect—not aggression.
He called on political leaders to educate their followers on the importance of peaceful engagement, urging restraint even in the face of disagreement. Okpala praised the swift intervention of security operatives who prevented further escalation and protected the National Chairman from physical harm. He concluded by reaffirming Ganduje’s commitment to party unity and national peace, expressing dismay that a leader who has worked tirelessly for party cohesion could be treated so disrespectfully.