A stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State turned chaotic on Sunday after key party figures failed to acknowledge Vice President Kashim Shettima while endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term.
The event was attended by top APC officials from the North-East, including ministers, lawmakers, governors, and the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Tensions flared when Comrade Mustapha Salihu, the APC’s National Vice Chairman (North-East), endorsed President Tinubu as the party’s unopposed candidate but conspicuously omitted Shettima’s name. The omission sparked outrage among delegates, some of whom hurled insults and attempted to confront Salihu physically. He was swiftly escorted out by security personnel.
In an attempt to restore order, Deputy National Chairman Bukar Dalori stepped up to endorse both Tinubu and Shettima for second terms. The effort was seen as a gesture to placate delegates, especially given Shettima’s roots in Borno State—one of the key states in the North-East.
However, matters escalated again when APC National Chairman Ganduje delivered a speech lasting about ten minutes without once mentioning Shettima. His silence on the Vice President further enraged attendees, prompting his security-led exit from the venue as well.
The meeting was eventually cut short amidst the growing unrest.
