As Nigeria’s 2027 general election draws nearer, simmering political tensions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have begun to erupt into public confrontations. A growing rift over an alleged plot to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima from President Bola Tinubu’s reelection ticket has divided party stakeholders, particularly in the North-East zone where Shettima enjoys significant grassroots support.
While President Tinubu has already secured endorsements from key figures and organs within the party to be the APC’s sole presidential candidate in 2027, murmurs of a potential change in the vice-presidential slot have sparked outrage and violent reactions among party faithful in the North-East, throwing the party’s internal unity into question.
Chaos at Gombe Stakeholders Meeting
Tensions boiled over at a North-East APC stakeholders meeting held at the International Conference Centre in Gombe State on Sunday, where what was meant to be a reaffirmation of support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid quickly degenerated into chaos.
The gathering, attended by serving and former governors, ministers, lawmakers, and other top-ranking party officials, turned violent after the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, concluded his address without mentioning Vice President Shettima in his endorsement speech for the President.“We have no business not supporting this party with all the juicy appointments and responsibilities given to us by this government,” Salihu said.
“We want to reaffirm and also adopt the endorsement earlier done by the national working committee, that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is endorsed to be a sole candidate for the 2027 election.”
But his omission of Shettima’s name was received as a grievous insult by delegates from Borno and other North-East states. What followed was a dramatic breakdown of order. Chants of “Shettima! Shettima!! Shettima!!!” filled the hall as angry supporters pelted Salihu with chairs and a plastic bucket, forcing him to flee the stage.
Efforts by Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Bukar Dalori, to pacify the angry crowd were unsuccessful. Eyewitnesses recounted chairs being thrown and delegates rushing the podium in protest. Security agents were eventually forced to intervene with teargas to disperse the growing crowd outside the venue.
“It’s an insult to the entire region that our own son, the Vice President, was not even mentioned. This is a calculated attempt to sideline Shettima, and we will resist it with everything we have,” fumed a visibly angry Borno delegate.
Fractures in Party Unity
Although the governors of the three APC-controlled North-East states — Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babagana Zulum (Borno), and Muhammadu Yahaya (Gombe) — had each endorsed the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in their individual speeches before the incident, the failure of some high-ranking party figures to do the same triggered suspicion of a coordinated plot.
Governor Yahaya of Gombe had praised the President and acknowledged the developmental strides made in the region under the Renewed Hope agenda, yet conspicuously avoided mentioning Shettima by name as part of the proposed 2027 ticket — a silence that did not go unnoticed.
Adding to the delegates’ fury was the perceived ambiguity of APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, in his closing speech. While calling for unity and discipline, Ganduje said, “This zone has produced the number two of this country, we are proud of this zone, we are proud of the North and we are proud of Nigeria as a nation… We are proud of his deputy, his Vice President. It is one ticket according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The statement, seen by many as vague and non-committal, failed to quell the anger. Delegates continued to chant “No Shettima, no APC in the North-East,” and some even threatened to defect to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if Shettima was dropped from the ticket.“If Shettima is dropped, I will personally lead my people to vote for Atiku,” a senior APC chieftain from Adamawa promised.
Cracks Within the National Structure
Party insiders say the Gombe incident has exposed deep fractures within the APC’s northern structure, especially as it relates to power dynamics and regional representation. Reports suggest that while the official agenda of the Gombe meeting was to consolidate support for Tinubu’s second term, political undercurrents centered around internal power tussles.
Comrade Mustapha Salihu’s controversial speech and the violent reaction that followed it came despite the fact that four National Working Committee (NWC) members from the North-East had already expressed support for the joint Tinubu-Shettima ticket. These included Dalori, Mohammad Kumo (Deputy Financial Secretary, Gombe), Zainab Ibrahim (Deputy Women Leader, Taraba), and Abubakar Maikafi (National Auditor, Bauchi).
Endorsements for the ticket were also reaffirmed by several high-profile lawmakers from the North-East. Hon. Usman Kumo, Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, gave his support on behalf of the zone’s House Caucus. Senator M.T. Monguno, Senate Chief Whip representing Borno North, endorsed the ticket on behalf of the region’s senators.
Despite this, Shettima’s supporters remain wary. Some pointed to the silence of Governor Yahaya — the host and Chair of the APC North-East Governors Forum — as suspicious. “The host governor didn’t openly endorse Kashim Shettima and Tinubu,” lamented Usman Aliyu, Director-General of the Borno State Great Green Wall. “We expected him to speak clearly, but he only praised Tinubu’s administration. There’s a hidden agenda.”
Aliyu confirmed that a communiqué would be issued soon to affirm support for the Tinubu-Shettima candidacy, warning that Shettima’s exclusion would be tantamount to betrayal.
Official Responses and Denials
In response to the uproar, the APC’s National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, dismissed the rumours of any move to drop Shettima. “I’m hearing that for the first time,” he said. “There’s a solid working relationship between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.”
Arodiogbu said he had contacted Mustapha Salihu, who denied any intent to undermine Shettima. “The outing was for the endorsement of the President. There was no such provision in his speech [to exclude the VP]. But in politics, people are pre-emptive of what does not exist, especially when it affects their interest.”
The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, also declined to confirm any internal changes, simply stating, “I am not aware, Sir.”
Still, multiple party sources have confirmed that there have been closed-door discussions by power brokers within the party about replacing Shettima with a more influential northern figure — presumably one who could consolidate more votes across the volatile North in 2027.
While these discussions remain unofficial and speculative, the reactions they have provoked are far from subtle.
Political Implications for 2027
The public chaos at the Gombe meeting may be a foretaste of the battle ahead for the APC as it navigates its internal politics before the next elections. The violent outburst signals that the North-East — once considered a stronghold for the APC — could become a flashpoint of political instability if the grievances of Shettima’s supporters are not addressed.
An eyewitness at the venue, James Abass, described the development as “more than just a misunderstanding.” According to him, it is “a sign of serious internal divisions within the ruling party that could trigger mass defections or the rise of a counter-movement if not urgently addressed.”
The political unrest comes shortly after 22 APC governors, the National Assembly leadership, and several party leaders had endorsed Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for 2027 during the APC National Summit at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja. The motion for Tinubu’s sole candidacy was moved by Progressive Governors’ Forum Chair and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and seconded by Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani.
Following that, both the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, affirmed the National Assembly’s support. Ganduje, speaking for the NWC, formally ratified the endorsement.
However, critics argue that these endorsements, while celebratory in the South and parts of the North-West, have not accounted for the complex political calculus in the North-East, where loyalty to Shettima remains deeply personal and regional identity plays a significant role in voter behavior.
Way Forward
The APC finds itself at a critical juncture. The party must quickly address the growing internal dissatisfaction before it evolves into open rebellion. For a party that prides itself on unity and progressive governance, the perception of internal exclusion — particularly along regional lines — could prove politically fatal.
For now, the official party line is that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket remains intact. But whether that will remain so in the months to come is uncertain. What is clear, however, is that any move to drop Shettima — or even the perception of such a move — risks alienating a vital bloc of the APC’s national support base.
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