Maiduguri was thrown into tension on Monday after the All Progressives Congress (APC) came under fire for leaving out the photograph of Vice-President Kashim Shettima on a banner displayed at the party’s North-East Zonal Public Hearing on the proposed amendment of its constitution.

The omission sparked anger among party delegates and stakeholders, with many describing it as a deliberate slight against the Vice-President. The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, openly challenged the organisers, condemning the act as disrespectful and capable of stirring internal unrest.

The banner showcased images of President Bola Tinubu, the five APC governors from the North-East and the party’s National Legal Adviser. However, Shettima’s photograph was noticeably absent, despite his position as Nigeria’s Vice-President and a key APC figure from the region.

Party insiders noted that this was not the first time such an incident had occurred. They recalled a similar controversy at an APC event in Gombe State last year, where the absence of Shettima’s image reportedly led to a confrontation that disrupted the meeting and forced it to end abruptly.

Speaking at the event, Lawan expressed disbelief over the omission, warning that it could deepen divisions within the party. “Why would the picture of the Vice-President be excluded from this banner? This same issue caused chaos in Gombe, and now it is happening again here in Borno. Whatever the intention of the organisers, it is clearly wrong,” he said.

He further questioned the rationale behind the decision, stressing that it was unacceptable to sideline a sitting Vice-President who hails from Borno and represents the North-East zone.

Lawan’s comments drew loud applause from the audience, underscoring the shared frustration of party members over what many saw as an unnecessary and provocative action.