Anger at APC meeting as North-East leaders, Ganduje, endorse Tinubu without Shettima

A meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in the North-East zone ended in chaos on Sunday after key party figures endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term without acknowledging Vice President Kashim Shettima.

 

The meeting, which held in Gombe State, was attended by APC governors, ministers, lawmakers, and other top party members from the zone.

 

Among the attendees, though not from the zone, was the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje. He is from Kano in the Northwest zone.

 

Trouble reportedly started when Comrade Mustapha Salihu, the APC’s National Vice Chairman (Northeast), endorsed President Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 election but made no reference to Vice President Shettima, who hails from Borno State — a key part of the region.

 

His omission sparked immediate outrage.

 

Some delegates protested, shouted, and threatened violence.

 

Salihu had to be quickly escorted out of the venue by security operatives to avoid a physical confrontation.

 

In an attempt to defuse the escalating tensions, Deputy National Chairman (North), Bukar Dalori, later stepped up to reaffirm support for both Tinubu and Shettima as a joint ticket.

 

However, tensions reignited when Ganduje delivered his own address.

 

Despite speaking for nearly 10 minutes, he also failed to mention Shettima, triggering another wave of anger among delegates.

 

Like Salihu, Ganduje was whisked away under tight security as the event ended in disarray.

 

The meeting was eventually cut short, with stakeholders visibly divided over the perceived slight against the Vice President.

 

The incident has raised concerns about growing cracks within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.