The All Progressives Congress (APC) is grappling with internal tension as speculation mounts over the future of Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 presidential race. Talk of President Bola Tinubu possibly dropping Shettima has sparked outrage, particularly among party loyalists in the North-East. At Sunday’s APC North-East stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe, what was meant to be a routine endorsement gathering quickly turned chaotic. Tensions soared when Mustapha Salihu, the APC’s National Vice Chairman (North-East), endorsed President Tinubu for a second term, but didn’t mention Shettima. This omission infuriated delegates. In a video that has gone viral, angry chants of “Shettima! Shettima!!” erupted before the crowd turned violent. Salihu was attacked, hit with a chair and a plastic bucket, before security whisked him away.
Adding fuel to the fire, APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje also failed to mention Shettima in his remarks, deepening suspicions. Protesters responded with chants like “No Shettima, no APC in the North-East,” and some even threatened to support opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar if Shettima is sidelined.
To calm nerves, Deputy National Chairman (North) Ali Bukar Dalori assured party members that there are no plans to replace Shettima:
“There is no cause for alarm,” Dalori disclosed on Monday. “As the 2027 political atmosphere heats up, let me be clear: the Tinubu/Shettima ticket is non-negotiable. We haven’t found the sin Senator Shettima committed to warrant a substitution.”
Dalori called the violence regrettable and questioned whether Shettima’s omission was deliberate or accidental but emphasized that the party remains united behind both leaders.
Ganduje later condemned the violence in a firm statement:
“This was not just an assault on the National Chairman,” the statement read, “but on the entire APC leadership. If such unruly behaviour goes unchecked, it sets a dangerous precedent. Nigeria’s democracy cannot be allowed to slide into lawlessness.”
His spokesperson added that Ganduje’s relationship with Tinubu and Shettima is:
“as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.”
“Politics is not violence,” he said. “It is dialogue, lobbying, and consultation. Resorting to physical attacks is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms.
Security officials stepped in quickly to prevent further violence and protect senior officials
Former Minister’s Warning
Former Communications Minister Adebayo Shittu also weighed in, warning the APC leadership not to drop Shettima:
“This is an unnecessary crisis,” Shittu said. “From the beginning, Shettima was a unifying choice. At a time when he wasn’t even seeking the position, he accepted the role and has performed dutifully. Why tamper with a winning team?”
He dismissed comparisons to Tinubu’s past strategy in Lagos, calling them irrelevant:
“If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” he said. “Creating instability now will only benefit the opposition. The consequences of dropping Shettima could be devastating for the party.”
Talks of Political Realignment
Despite public denials, insiders told jounalists that internal discussions are happening. These talks reportedly explore the possibility of replacing Shettima to boost the party’s chances in regions where APC is weak, similar to Tinubu’s tactics as Lagos governor.
“The President is weighing the options,” one source hinted.
However, the backlash from the North-East, where Shettima is a major figure, has been swift. Analysts warn that removing him could shatter the delicate alliances that secured Tinubu’s victory in 2023.
“Dropping Shettima could fracture the fragile regional alliances that brought Tinubu to power,” an analyst stated. “The stakes are high, and the APC must tread carefully or risk internal implosion.”
Salihu Speaks Out
After narrowly escaping the violence in Gombe, Mustapha Salihu spoke out during an interview on Channels Television, clarifying that only Tinubu can choose his running mate:
“There is no such thing as a joint ticket during party primaries,” Salihu said. “Only the presidential candidate emerges, and it is entirely his prerogative to choose a running mate, after he becomes the flagbearer.”
“Even though the party and stakeholders may be consulted, constitutionally, it is solely the candidate’s right.”
Salihu denied snubbing Shettima in his speech, insisting he had praised him earlier:
“The last paragraph of my speech before the fracas was dedicated to eulogising Kashim Shettima. I said he is our son and that we in the North-East stand solidly behind him.”
He also thanked Tinubu for appointing key North-East figures like National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Salihu accused unnamed actors of using the incident to create division:
“Some people thrive on creating tension. We call them ‘crisis entrepreneurs’, they manipulate situations like this to create confusion and benefit from it,” he said. “These rumours are inevitable, especially as elections draw near.”
He urged members not to fall for:
“conspiracy theories” circulating on social media.
“Party business isn’t conducted on the platforms of socila medìa or pages of newspapers. We operate through the party office. These rumours are simply not reflective of the reality within the party.”
Asked if he knew those behind the attack, Salihu responded:
“The security agencies know the section of people who orchestrated that attack. Thank God that I was not touched. Nobody was able to harm me as planned.
“The reason why I can’t divulge all the information is because there is an ongoing investigation and once the facts are established, I will make it available to the public.
“Some people are trying to use this as an instrument of coercion. If you cannot coerce a small person like me, is it Asiwaju you want to intimidate? You can’t do that. It is a wrong way of trying to get political advantage.”
Source: The Punch
