- Safiu Kehinde
The All Progressives Congress (APC) North-East zonal consultative meeting ended in chaos on Sunday following the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu without his Vice, Kashim Shettima, ahead of the 2027 Presidential election.
Clash had erupted among the Northeast delegates at the meeting held in Gombe state after Shettima’s name was omitted by speakers at the meeting which raised suspicion of the possibility of Shettima being dropped for another person.
The chaotic scene captured in series of videos shared on X on Sunday saw some of the delegates engaging in brawls with others tossing chairs at one another.
The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, who was also in attendance at the meeting was captured being guarded out of the premises under tight security as the enraged delegates plunged at him.
According to report, the clash became imminent after the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, skipped the mention of Shettima in Tinubu’s second-term ticket.
A delegate and former Commissioner of one of the Northeastern states who spoke to the Guardian under condition of anonymity disclosed that the crowd became very unruly and uncontrollable when Ganduje repeated what many thought was an oversight from Salihu.
“It was when Ganduje delivered his speech that it became obvious that APC leaders want to drop Shettima from the presidential ticket, and our people showed them that it would not be an easy decision to make,” he said.
The delegate reportedly expressed regret that security operatives prevented them from teaching Salihu some home lessons as he held that the North-Eastern State would make Tinubu to understand that the zone cannot be used to play Lagos politics.
Prior to the chaos, the Chairman of North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF), Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, had in his welcome address noted that the region had always played a crucial role in the politics of Nigeria.
While appreciating Ganduje for his physical presence at the meeting, the Yobe governor explained that the consultative meetings to evaluate the achievements and challenges of the party and suggest ways to give the party supporters a sense of belonging and improve our reward system.
“I seize this opportunity to congratulate us on APC’s 10 years of leadership in Nigeria and Africa’s largest political party. However, it is important to note that this achievement is not a coincidence, but a product of careful and strategic planning, focused leadership and giving members a sense of belonging.
“Therefore, it is important for us to continue promoting the values that unite us, address the few wranglings, give party supporters a sense of belonging and improve our reward system,” Buni said.