Tensions Erupt in APC Over 2027 Ticket: Shettima’s Fate Sparks Intra-Party Crisis
Despite the 2027 general elections being two years away, a growing controversy is shaking the foundation of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as speculation mounts over a possible move to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima from the party’s presidential ticket. The development has triggered an internal power struggle that threatens to fracture the party, particularly in the North-East where Shettima hails from and commands significant influence.
What began as a strategic stakeholders’ meeting of the APC North-East zone in Gombe State quickly descended into chaos on Sunday, leaving behind a trail of anger, injuries, and heightened mistrust within the party. The meeting, convened ostensibly to rally support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, ended in disarray when some key party figures appeared to sideline Shettima in their public endorsements.
The incident, widely circulated via social media videos, showed disgruntled delegates physically assaulting the APC National Vice Chairman for the North-East, Comrade Mustapha Salihu. In one shocking clip, a furious party member was seen hurling a plastic chair at Salihu while others hurled a black bucket in his direction. Salihu had to flee the stage as the enraged crowd erupted in chants of “Shettima! Shettima!! Shettima!!!”
Crisis Triggered by Omission
The catalyst for the breakdown was Salihu’s controversial speech in which he unequivocally endorsed President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential race but made no mention of Vice President Shettima. This perceived slight was seen by many in the hall as a deliberate effort to exclude Shettima from the conversation—an omission that proved inflammatory.
“We have no business not supporting this party with all the juicy appointments and responsibilities given to us by this government,” Salihu said. “Let us rise and reaffirm the endorsement earlier done by the national working committee, that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the sole candidate for 2027.”
That omission provoked a swift and furious reaction. Delegates erupted in protest chants, while some physically confronted Salihu, forcing event security to intervene.
One visibly upset delegate from Borno State exclaimed, “It is an insult to the North-East. Our son, the Vice President, was not even mentioned. We see this as a calculated attempt to sideline Shettima and we won’t let that happen.”
Unity Cracks as Endorsements Clash
Although the event had been intended to showcase party unity and rally support behind Tinubu and Shettima’s joint ticket, the execution fell short. Three governors from APC-controlled states in the North-East—Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Babagana Zulum of Borno, and host Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe—had earlier affirmed their support for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket. But this show of unity was not enough to calm fraying nerves.
Gombe’s Governor Yahaya stated during his remarks, “The North-East is fully behind both the President and the Vice President. Their joint leadership is bringing hope and transformation to our region.”
However, the situation worsened when APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, in his own remarks, also failed to directly reinforce Shettima’s place on the 2027 ticket. Ganduje instead opted for general praise of the region and the administration.
“We are proud of this zone. This region delivered over 1.2 million votes in 2023. In 2027, we expect more. We must remain united and focused,” he said. “We have a progressive President and a performing Vice President. The Constitution recognizes a joint ticket and we uphold that.”
Still, Ganduje’s remarks failed to douse the rising tension. Chants of “No Shettima, no APC in North-East!” rang across the hall, and threats of mass defection to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) began to surface.
“If the APC drops Shettima, I will personally mobilize for Atiku Abubakar,” a furious delegate from Adamawa State told YEPS. “We refuse to be taken for granted.”
Violence, Walkouts, and Police Intervention
The scene inside the International Conference Centre in Gombe quickly degenerated into violence. Chairs flew, tempers flared, and high-ranking party members hastily exited the venue to avoid further escalation. The commotion spilled outside, where police fired teargas to disperse crowds that had gathered amid the chaos.
One eyewitness, James Abass, described the incident as a symptom of deeper internal rifts within the party. “This isn’t just about an endorsement,” he said. “This is a warning sign that APC could face serious rebellion in the North-East if the matter isn’t resolved quickly.”
According to YEPS sources, tensions had been building up for weeks, with behind-the-scenes discussions about possibly replacing Shettima with another high-profile northern politician ahead of the 2027 elections.
A party insider who attended the meeting shared that although some top APC officials, including Senator M.T. Monguno and Hon. Usman Kumo, had endorsed the Tinubu-Shettima ticket on behalf of their constituencies, Salihu stood out as the lone dissenting voice.
“Mustapha Salihu was the only one from the North-East National Working Committee who did not support the joint ticket. Others like Hon. Dalori, Zainab Ibrahim, Mohammad Kumo, and Abubakar Maikafi all backed it,” the source explained.
Suspicion and Political Calculations
Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised about the silence of host Governor Inuwa Yahaya during the endorsement segment of the event. Despite hosting the meeting, Yahaya only praised Tinubu’s leadership and the Renewed Hope Agenda, without clearly mentioning Shettima’s continued place on the ticket.
This has fueled suspicions among party members in the region.
“We expected our host governor to be vocal in endorsing the full ticket. His silence is not just disappointing—it suggests something deeper,” said Usman Aliyu, Director-General of the Great Green Wall in Borno State.
Aliyu accused Salihu of executing a “hidden agenda,” warning that any plan to sideline Shettima would be fiercely resisted.
“What Mustapha did was a slap on our faces. We expected solidarity and unity. Instead, we got betrayal,” he said.
Presidency Responds
In the wake of the violence and controversy, attempts have been made by presidential aides and party officials to quell the storm. Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, APC’s National Vice Chairman for the South-East, dismissed the rumours as “distractions.”
“There’s a strong and professional working relationship between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima. This is all political noise,” Arodiogbu said. “People are often preemptive and assume things that are not even in motion. I have spoken to Mustapha Salihu, and he confirmed there was no deliberate omission.”
Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, also addressed the matter briefly, saying, “I am not aware, Sir,” when asked if Shettima might be dropped.
According to Arodiogbu, the endorsement event was focused on Tinubu, not on the joint ticket, but emphasized that the President and Vice President are inseparable.
“Nothing so far suggests the President is unhappy with Shettima. It is a joint ticket, and they are aligned in vision and purpose,” he reiterated.
2027 Endorsement and Fallout
The speculation about dropping Shettima gained traction after 22 APC governors, party leaders, and the National Assembly leadership endorsed Tinubu as the party’s sole presidential candidate for 2027. The endorsement came during the APC National Summit in Abuja, where Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma made the motion, seconded by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani.
This endorsement was followed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who also backed Tinubu based on his first-term achievements.
However, as the endorsement was not accompanied by clear statements affirming Shettima’s running mate status, confusion and speculation began to spread, particularly in the North-East.
Gombe Meeting: Missed Opportunity or Strategic Messaging?
The chaotic end to the Gombe stakeholders’ meeting has now become a symbol of APC’s internal divisions ahead of the 2027 elections. Analysts believe the party’s failure to clearly reaffirm the joint Tinubu-Shettima ticket may deepen regional mistrust, particularly in areas where the Vice President holds sway.
The Gombe incident might also reflect broader political calculations by powerful figures within the APC who may be lobbying for a shift in the party’s strategy to balance emerging regional dynamics or electoral math.
However, unless these tensions are addressed and clarified, the ruling party may face an uphill battle preserving unity across its zones—especially in a politically sensitive region like the North-East.
Navigating a Fragile Future
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is approaching a defining moment. With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, the stakes are high, and the party’s internal cohesion is under serious scrutiny. While President Bola Tinubu’s backers are pushing for an early and firm endorsement of his second-term bid, murmurs surrounding the fate of Vice President Kashim Shettima threaten to disrupt the delicate balance within the ruling party.
For many loyalists, Shettima has proven himself—a committed vice president with deep political roots, especially in the North-East. His contributions to the administration and his regional popularity make him an asset, not a liability. Any move to sideline him, they argue, could unravel the goodwill the party currently enjoys in the northern bloc.
However, unless party leaders publicly reaffirm Shettima’s place on the 2027 ticket, suspicions will fester. The recent outburst at the North-East APC stakeholders’ meeting shows that silence or vague endorsements won’t be enough. The perception of exclusion, whether intentional or not, is already fueling discontent in the North-East and could snowball into serious rebellion.
The message from that region is now unmistakable: Shettima’s presence is not negotiable. Ignoring this sentiment could fracture the party’s electoral base and hand the opposition an unexpected opportunity.
As APC charts its path forward, unity must be backed by action—not just rhetoric. The leadership needs to prioritize transparency, internal dialogue, and strategic clarity. Preaching party unity while creating doubts about key figures only deepens mistrust.
The road to 2027 requires both political courage and sensitivity. Anything less, and the ruling party risks walking into an election season divided, distracted, and vulnerable.