Written by Okafor Joseph Afam | Editor, SpringnewsNG Media Limited | June 16, 2025

Fresh tensions have erupted within Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), following emerging reports of a plan to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima from the party’s 2027 presidential ticket — a move that has triggered political unrest in the North-East.

The controversy reached boiling point on Sunday at an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe State, originally organized to affirm President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid. However, chaos ensued after APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, conspicuously omitted Shettima’s name during his endorsement speech.

“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,” Salihu declared.

This omission immediately sparked outrage among party delegates, particularly from Borno State, where Shettima hails from. Furious chants of “Shettima! Shettima!!” erupted as Salihu was attacked on stage, with a viral video showing him being hit with a chair while fleeing the venue. Security operatives fired teargas to disperse the crowd outside.

Delegates Demand Respect for North-East

Several North-East delegates described the slight as a deliberate insult to the region.

“This is a slap on our faces,” said Usman Aliyu, a delegate from Borno. “We expect unity. We will issue a communiqué reaffirming our support for the Tinubu/Shettima joint ticket.”

Another delegate warned that dropping Shettima could trigger mass defection.

“If Shettima is dropped, I will personally mobilize support for Atiku Abubakar in 2027,” said an APC chieftain from Adamawa.

Key Party Figures Under Fire

The host of the event, Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya, faced backlash for failing to mention Shettima in his speech. Though Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni, and several lawmakers from the North-East publicly reaffirmed support for Shettima, party loyalists remained unconvinced.

APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje tried to douse the tension but offered only a vague statement:

“This zone has produced the number two of this country… We are proud of the Vice President. It is one ticket according to the Constitution.”

His remarks did little to ease the crowd, which resumed chanting: “No Shettima, no APC in the North-East!”

Internal Party Rift Widens

Sources confirmed that only Mustapha Salihu opposed the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, while four other National Working Committee (NWC) members from the region stood firmly behind the Vice President.

However, speculation persists that some APC power blocs are considering a more “influential” Northern politician to replace Shettima ahead of 2027, citing political strategy and power dynamics.

Presidential aide Daniel Bwala and APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, have both dismissed the controversy as baseless rumour.

“There’s a solid working relationship between Tinubu and Shettima. These are just political distractions,” Arodiogbu said.

Political Analysts Warn of Fallout

Analysts warn that any move to sideline Shettima could spell disaster for APC in the North-East, a critical voting bloc.

“This is more than a misunderstanding,” said political analyst James Abass. “It’s a sign of internal fractures that, if ignored, could trigger widespread rebellion or defections ahead of 2027.”

The APC is now under pressure to issue a formal statement clarifying its stance on the 2027 ticket to avoid further damage to party unity.

SpringnewsNG Media Limited will continue to monitor political developments ahead of the 2027 elections.