Crisis brews in the All Progressives Congress (APC) after Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, openly protested the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term. The protest took place during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Sunday in Gombe State. What sparked the tension was that Vice President Kashim Shettima, who also hails from the North-East region, was not included in the endorsement.
The event, which was meant to unite key APC leaders from the North-East zone, turned chaotic after party officials, including APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and North-East Vice Chairman, Mustapha Salihu, declared Tinubu as the preferred candidate for the 2027 election. However, they did so without any mention of Shettima, a move that many delegates saw as a deliberate exclusion.
Security had to be tightened at the venue as angry delegates began voicing their displeasure. Some accused the party leaders of trying to sideline the North-East region by not acknowledging the vice president. Ganduje and Salihu were quickly escorted out under tight protection as the situation worsened.
Governor Zulum, who has a close political relationship with Shettima, was seen leading a protest against the decision. He was supported by several delegates and party members from Borno and other North-East states. Many of them argue that it is disrespectful and politically unwise to overlook Shettima, especially considering the strong support he brings from the region.
Reacting to the incident, political analyst Abdul-Aziz Na’ibi Abubakar posted on X, saying, “The beginning of the APC’s downfall has just begun as Governor Zulum led a protest against the APC North-East meeting for failing to endorse Kashim Shettima ahead of 2027!”
The uproar has raised new questions about internal unity within the APC as the 2027 elections draw closer. Just last month, at a party summit in Abuja, Ganduje had announced Tinubu as the party’s only presidential candidate. That announcement did not sit well with several North-East leaders, especially those close to Shettima.
Some party loyalists have started expressing concerns that the APC might be heading for deeper divisions if the leadership does not find a way to settle the growing rift. The recent endorsement without proper regional representation has added fuel to a fire that was already smoldering beneath the surface..
