2027: APC Northeast boils as plot to drop Vice President Shettima thickens

Ahead of 2027 general election, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the Northeast is beginning to experience growing crisis as plot to drop the Vice President Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate thickens.

The zonal party stakeholders’ meeting boiled on Sunday during their meeting in Gombe which ended in chaos.

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The crisis in Gombe was a snapshot of things to come as President Bola Tinubu was endorsed for a second term of office, without the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, thereby leading to uprising among supporters of Shettima and others opposing his come-back as running mate to Tinubu.

The dramatic attack on each other went full swing when the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, failed to acknowledge Vice President Shettima in his endorsement speech.

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In his speech, Salihu adopted the earlier endorsement of President Tinubu by the National Working Committee that, “Tinubu should be the sole candidate in 2027 election.”

Checks by CAPITAL POST in Abuja on Monday could not establish Shettima was inclusive of earlier endorsement of Tinubu by the National Working Committee.

Enraged supporters of Shettima could be seen in a viral video where Salihu was struck with chairs as he struggle to flee from the scene amid others hurling objects, including a plastic bucket, in protest.

Efforts by top party leaders, including the Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Bukar Dalori, to calm the crowd proved abortive.

This is even as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Umar Abdullahi Ganduje also struggled to save his dear life amid chaos. The unrest continued until the meeting was brought to an abrupt end as Police released teargas to disperse the riotous crowd.

Speaking on the sidelines of the chaos, a delegate from Borno State, Usman Aliyu, described the snub as a calculated insult to the region.

“This is a slap on our faces,” Aliyu said. “We expect to have one voice. We’ll issue a communiqué reaffirming Tinubu and Shettima’s candidacy.”

Another Borno delegate warned: “It’s an insult to the entire region that our own son, the Vice President, was not even mentioned. We will resist this attempt to sideline Shettima.”

“If Shettima is dropped, I will personally lead my people to vote for Atiku,” an APC chieftain from Adamawa declared.

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