GOMBE: A major controversy erupted on Sunday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-East stakeholders meeting held in Gombe State, following the party’s endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term without acknowledging Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The meeting was attended by key APC figures including governors, ministers, lawmakers, and party leaders from the North-East region.
The National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, led the high-level delegation to the event.
Tensions rose when Comrade Mustapha Salihu, APC’s National Vice Chairman for the North-East, publicly endorsed President Tinubu for re-election but failed to mention Vice President Shettima, a prominent figure from Borno State.
The omission immediately triggered backlash from delegates in attendance.
Angered by the perceived slight, several party members shouted at Salihu and threatened physical confrontation.
Security personnel were forced to intervene and escort him out of the venue to restore order.
Read also:
In an unexpected turn, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje also endorsed Tinubu during his address but similarly made no reference to Shettima. His 10-minute speech concluded without a single mention of the Vice President, further fueling discontent among party loyalists.
Ganduje too had to be escorted from the premises by security operatives as tensions escalated.
In an attempt to defuse the situation, Deputy National Chairman Bukar Dalori stood before the gathering and officially endorsed both Tinubu and Shettima for a second term in office, stressing the need for unity within the party ranks.
Rapidospace reports that the meeting ended abruptly after the unexpected turn of events. The lack of mention of Shettima by top party officials in his home region has raised political concerns and sparked heated reactions across the North-East.
