An alleged plot to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election has divided the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A meeting held by the APC North-East stakeholders at the International Conference Centre, Gombe, in Gombe State on Sunday to rally support for Tinubu’s second-term bid ended in a fracas as supporters of the Vice President attacked the party’s Zonal Vice Chairman, Mustapha Salihu.
The meeting spiralled into violence when some key party leaders failed to acknowledge Shettima as a part of the proposed 2027 joint ticket.
An angry member was seen in a viral video hitting Salihu with a chair as he scampered away to escape the wrath of the party faithful. Another delegate also threw a black plastic bucket at him.
Trouble began shortly after the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Salihu, ended his address without mentioning Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate.
Salihu said: “We have no business not supporting this party with all the juicy appointments and responsibilities given to us by this government.
“I would want all members of the zonal executive committee to stand-up so that we will do the proper endorsement, because it is the zonal executive committee that holds the ticket.
“We want to reaffirm and also adopt the endorsement earlier done by the national working committee, that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is endorsed to be a sole candidate for the 2027 election.”
After his failure to acknowledge the Vice President, the annoyed delegates began to chant “Shettima! Shettima!! Shettima!!!” in protest as an aggrieved supporter physically confronted Salihu on the stage.
Eyewitnesses said chairs were thrown across the hall as the confrontation turned violent, disrupting the event and forcing security personnel to intervene.
Efforts to pacify the delegates by the Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Bukar Dalori, failed.
“It’s an insult to the entire region that our own son, the Vice President, was not even mentioned. This is a calculated attempt to sideline Shettima, and we will resist it with everything we have,” fumed a Borno delegate.
The meeting ended abruptly as several dignitaries, including serving and former governors, ministers, senators, and House of Representatives members exited the venue amid the commotion.
Outside, the police fired teargas to disperse the agitated crowd that had gathered at the venue as tensions soared.