A meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in the North-East turned chaotic on Sunday after prominent party leaders, including the National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, and the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term without acknowledging Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
The meeting, held in Gombe State, was attended by APC governors, ministers, lawmakers and other prominent leaders from the region.
According to Daily Trust, tensions escalated when Salihu, in his speech, openly declared support for Tinubu as the APC’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, notably omitting any mention of Vice-President Shettima, a native of Borno State in the North-East.
His refusal to acknowledge Shettima provoked a heated response from delegates, some of whom began shouting and threatening physical confrontation. Security operatives quickly intervened and escorted Salihu out of the venue.
In an effort to ease the tension, APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Bukar Dalori, stepped up to the podium and expressed support for both Tinubu and Shettima to pursue a joint second term.
However, the controversy deepened when Ganduje, in his speech, also omitted Shettima’s name while endorsing Tinubu.
Despite speaking for almost 10 minutes, Ganduje failed to mention the Vice President, sparking further discontent among party loyalists.
According to Daily Trust, like Salihu, Ganduje had to be escorted out of the venue under heavy security.
A video cited by DAILY POST on Sunday showed that the meeting ended suddenly, as arguments broke out over the failure of the party leaders to acknowledge the Vice President.
The development is coming just days after Daniel Musa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State, criticized the party’s North-East Zonal Coordinator and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, for scheduling an important APC meeting on a Sunday morning – a time traditionally set aside for Christian worship.
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Tension as North-East APC leaders endorse Tinubu for 2027, ignore Shettima
