Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State on Sunday led a protest during the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-East stakeholders’ meeting held in Gombe, following the exclusion of Vice President Kashim Shettima in a public endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.
The endorsement, which was spearheaded by the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the party’s National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, triggered strong reactions from party members present, as they failed to recognise Shettima in the 2027 equation.
The development caused uproar at the venue, forcing security operatives to whisk Ganduje and Salihu away under tight protection as angry delegates protested the perceived slight on the Vice President, who hails from Borno State.
The event, meant to solidify the region’s support for the ruling party, ended in confusion and open disagreement among stakeholders.
A public affairs commentator, Abdul-Aziz Na’ibi Abubakar, reacting to the incident via his verified X handle, described it as the beginning of cracks within the party.
“The beginning of APC’s downfall has just started as Governor Zulum protested the exclusion of Vice President Shettima at the North-East meeting,” he stated.
The incident has heightened existing tensions in the region, especially as Shettima is seen as a political heavyweight in the North-East. Some party loyalists fear that sidelining him in such a crucial political decision could trigger further division ahead of the 2027 general elections.
