What started as a political present of power for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria’s North-East zone turned tense on Sunday after a controversial endorsement speech sparked protests at a stakeholders’ summit in Gombe State.
The high-profile gathering drew delegates from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states. Outstanding celebration leaders, together with Governors Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babagana Zulum (Borno), and Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), lauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration and applauded his position in supporting the North’s eight-year presidency previous to his personal rise to energy.
In a unified entrance, the governors endorsed President Tinubu for a second time period, urging northern help for his re-election bid in 2027 as a gesture of political reciprocity.
However the ambiance shifted dramatically when APC North-East Zonal Vice Chairman, Mustapha Salihu, wrapped up his remarks by declaring Tinubu the only real candidate for 2027 — notably omitting Vice President Kashim Shettima within the course of.
The omission sparked rapid backlash from sections of the gang, who demanded recognition for the vice chairman, a local of Borno State and key political determine within the area.
Governor Zulum tried to pacify the aggrieved delegates, however the unrest escalated. Safety personnel had been ultimately deployed to revive calm contained in the venue.
Nationwide APC Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, later took the stage and provided a extra balanced message, praising each Tinubu and Shettima.
His remarks appeared to assuage tempers and allowed the summit to proceed with out additional incident.
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The controversy additionally rekindled recollections of an identical state of affairs from a decade earlier.
Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) rejected the endorsement outright, cautioning that such political declarations could not assure electoral success.
He drew a parallel to 2015, when then-President Goodluck Jonathan secured backing from 22 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) however nonetheless misplaced the presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
The APC governors had earlier, on Could 22, collectively endorsed Tinubu for 2027 — as soon as once more with out mentioning Shettima — fueling rising considerations amongst northern loyalists over the vice chairman’s position and recognition within the celebration’s future plans.
With intra-party tensions now out within the open, questions loom over how the APC will navigate its path to 2027 whereas sustaining inside unity and balancing regional pursuits.
