Allegations of a scheme to remove Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election have rocked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), even though Nigeria’s next general election is two years away.
According to PUNCH News, tensions between the vice president’s supporters and other party officials erupted during a North-East APC stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe State on Sunday, bringing the controversy to a head and causing mayhem.
The original purpose of the gathering, which took place at the International Conference Centre in Gombe, was to renew support for President Tinubu’s bid for a second term. But when rumours of a purported plot to marginalize Shettima spread among guests, it descended into violence.
APC Zonal Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, was challenged by angry party members in a now-viral video that is making the rounds on social media. Salihu was spotted running from the scene to avoid the mounting animosity when one irate delegate threw a black plastic bucket at him and another struck him with a chair.
According to witnesses, the altercation started because Salihu was charged with belonging to a group within the party that was reportedly working to have Shettima replaced in 2027 by a different North-East candidate.
“This is a betrayal,” shouted one aggrieved supporter. “We will not let anyone undermine the Vice President.”
The episode highlights the growing factionalism within the APC, especially in the North-East, where Shettima has substantial influence, even though the party’s leadership has not formally declared any decisions regarding its 2027 ticket.
According to insiders, some party leaders worry that keeping Shettima in office could not result in the required regional balance in the upcoming election, while others contend that replacing him would cause division within the party and alienate Northern voters.
A senior APC official, speaking anonymously, said, “It is unfortunate this is coming up now. The election is still two years away, and instead of consolidating governance, we’re already fighting over succession.”
Neither Vice President Shettima nor President Tinubu have responded to the event or the escalating rumours surrounding the 2027 ticket as of the time of publication. But according to reports, a number of Northern APC MPs have started organizing to support Shettima’s stance and pressure party leaders to put an end to any internal conspiracy.
The drama that is developing, according to party observers, serves as a reminder of the careful balancing act needed to preserve the APC’s national alliance, particularly as opposition forces look to retake power in 2027.
What was supposed to be a demonstration of solidarity and support for the Tinubu-Shettima administration has been clouded by the incident on Sunday, which has exposed serious divisions among the APC’s leadership.
Regarding the violence or the allegations causing the turmoil in Gombe, the APC national secretariat in Abuja has not yet released a statement.
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