There was tension and uproar on Sunday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting for the North-East zone after Comrade Mustapha Salihu, the party’s National Vice Chairman for the region, failed to mention Vice-President Kashim Shettima while endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term.
The meeting, held in Gombe State, attracted governors, ministers, lawmakers, and other key APC figures from the zone, with National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje also present.
Trouble started when Salihu, during his remarks, publicly endorsed President Tinubu to emerge as the party’s unopposed candidate for the 2027 presidential election but was conspicuously silent on Vice-President Shettima, who hails from Borno State in the North-East.
His omission sparked outrage, as delegates began shouting insults and threatening to attack him. Security operatives swiftly escorted Salihu out of the meeting venue to prevent escalation.
To ease tensions, Deputy National Chairman Bukar Dalori quickly moved to endorse both Tinubu and Shettima for a joint second term, a move aimed at restoring calm.
However, the situation worsened when Ganduje, in his own address, similarly endorsed only Tinubu for a second term and failed to acknowledge Shettima.
His remarks, which lasted about 10 minutes, drew further anger from the gathering, prompting his hurried exit under tight security escort.