A recent stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State ended in turmoil following the controversial exclusion of Vice President Kashim Shettima from a public endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. The North-East zonal meeting, which drew prominent party figures including APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, federal ministers, governors, and lawmakers, was intended to showcase regional unity and support for the president’s second-term ambition. Instead, it exposed growing divisions within the party ranks.

The tension began when the APC’s National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, declared President Tinubu as the sole candidate for the 2027 election. In his address, Salihu praised the president’s leadership and declared unanimous regional backing, but conspicuously left out any mention of Vice President Shettima, who hails from Borno State in the North-East. This omission sparked immediate outrage from several delegates, particularly those aligned with the vice president.

Television footage captured the moment delegates began shouting, “What about Shettima?” The situation quickly escalated, with some attempting to storm the stage and hurling chairs and other objects toward the podium. Security personnel were forced to intervene, whisking Salihu away from the venue to prevent further violence.

In an effort to restore calm, Deputy National Chairman (North), Bukar Dalori, addressed the audience and clarified that the 2023 winning combination of Tinubu and Shettima remains the party’s strongest ticket. Although this dual endorsement received some applause, the crowd’s mood remained volatile.

The situation worsened again when APC National Chairman Ganduje delivered a speech that also failed to mention Shettima. Despite his attempts to highlight party progress and unity under Tinubu’s leadership, the crowd reacted with boos and chants, forcing Ganduje to cut his speech short and exit under heavy security.

The meeting ended prematurely due to uncontrollable tensions, revealing deeper fractures within the APC. The unrest comes amid rumors that pressure is mounting within the party for Tinubu to replace Shettima on the 2027 ticket with a Christian northerner to address religious concerns and possibly regain political balance. Former Speaker Yakubu Dogara has reportedly emerged as a potential alternative, though he has yet to make any public declaration. Critics suggest that repeating the Muslim-Muslim ticket used in 2023, especially amid widespread economic hardship, could prove politically costly in 2027.