2027: Questions Rise Over Tinubu-Shettima Alliance

2027: Questions Rise Over Tinubu-Shettima Alliance

Although the 2027 general election is still two years away, an alleged plan to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate has sparked division within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tensions flared during a meeting of North-East APC stakeholders held in Gombe State on Sunday, culminating in chaos as supporters of the Vice President clashed with the party’s Zonal Vice Chairman, Mustapha Salihu.

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.

The gathering, which was held at the International Conference Centre, Gombe, was originally convened to reaffirm support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid.

However, the meeting spiralled into violence when some key party leaders failed to acknowledge Shettima as a part of the proposed 2027 joint ticket.

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.”

Following 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.

Before the chaos, the governors of the three APC-controlled states in the North-East — Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babagana Zulum (Borno), and host Governor Muhammadu Yahaya (Gombe) — had all endorsed the Tinubu-Shettima ticket for the 2027 poll in their separate speeches.

Governor Yahaya stated, “The North-East is fully behind the President and the Vice President. Their leadership has brought renewed hope to this region.”

However, despite efforts by party leaders to douse the tension, the situation worsened when APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, also avoided explicitly confirming Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate in his closing remarks.

Ganduje said, “We need unity more than ever. This region delivered over 1.2 million votes in 2023. In 2027, we expect three times that. But we must remain focused and disciplined as a party.”

He added, “This zone has produced the number two of this country, we are proud of this zone, we are proud of the North and we are proud of Nigeria as a nation.

“I have to tell you, we have a progressive President, the leader of our party Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and we are proud of his deputy, his Vice President, it is one ticket according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

His comments did little to ease the delegates’ anger, many of whom began chanting, “No Shettima, no APC in the North-East.”

Some even threatened to shift allegiance to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, should the party proceed with dropping Shettima from the ticket.

“If Shettima is dropped, I will personally lead my people to vote for Atiku,” a visibly angry party chieftain from Adamawa State told The press . “We won’t be taken for granted.”

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.

An eyewitness, James Abass, told The PUNCH that the incident could signal deeper fractures within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, especially in the North-East, where Shettima commands strong grassroots support.

“This is more than just a misunderstanding. It’s a sign of serious internal divisions within the ruling party that could trigger mass defections or the rise of a counter-movement if not urgently addressed,” Abass stated.

A reliable source gave the press a brief of the zonal meeting.

“The Governor of Gombe was not in support of the joint ticket but could not summon the courage to openly oppose it as the host.

But Hon. Usman Kumo, Chief Whip of the House and member representing Kumo Federal Constituency, from Gombe State endorsed the ticket on behalf of the North-East House of Reps Caucus.

“Senator M.T. Monguno (Chief Whip of the Senate, representing Borno North) endorsed the joint ticket on behalf of the Senate from the North-East while Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, Deputy National Chairman (North) spoke on behalf of the other National Working Committee members from the North East.

“It is pertinent to mention that it was only Comrade Mustapha Salihu that spoke against the ticket while the four members of the NWC from the North-East had all supported the joint ticket.

“Those NWC members, who supported the joint ticket are Dalori;  Mohammad Kumo (Deputy Financial Secretary, Gombe State); Zainab Ibrahim (Deputy Women Leader, Taraba State); and Abubakar Maikafi (National Auditor, Bauchi State).”

The National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, had earlier dismissed growing speculations that Tinubu may sideline the Vice President, calling it a distraction.

“I’m hearing that for the first time. There’s a solid working relationship between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.

“Shettima is a key asset—intelligent, focused, and deeply involved in this administration. These rumours are likely just political noise meant to create division,” Arodiogbu told The press last week.

He added that it was not unusual for such rumours to surface in the build-up to an election cycle, but stressed that the President and his deputy remained aligned and fully endorsed by the party.

Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, offered a brief response when contacted, saying, “I am not aware, Sir.”

The rumours of the President dropping Shettima for 2027 emerged shortly after 22 APC governors, National Assembly leadership and party leaders endorsed Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate for the next election.

The endorsement was first moved by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and seconded by Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, during the APC National Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

Shortly after, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on behalf of the National Assembly, also endorsed the President for re-election, based on his performance.

The National Chairman of the APC, Ganduje, on behalf of the National Working Committee, affirmed the decision that Tinubu is the sole candidate of the party for the 2027 presidential election.

While the endorsement was met with jubilation in some quarters, it also triggered criticism from opposition parties and within APC.

Reacting to the Gombe incident, both presidential and party officials dismissed claims of an impending shakeup in the APC’s 2027 ticket. The APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Arodiogbu, described the rumour that President Tinubu intends to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as completely unfounded.

He said, “That report does not reflect the reality on ground. We’ve already discussed it. In fact, I’m currently with the National Chairman. I also spoke with the National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustafa, who is a close friend. I asked him directly if it was true that he no longer supports the Vice President. He denied it.

“He explained that he only made a speech endorsing the President during the event, which was focused solely on supporting President Tinubu. There was no suggestion in his remarks about replacing the Vice President.”

Arodiogbu emphasized that the President and Vice President remain united, running on a joint ticket. “As of now, there’s no indication—verbally or through actions—that the President is dissatisfied with Shettima. But as we know, in politics, people often speculate based on personal interests, even when nothing concrete exists.”

Despite these reassurances, some unconfirmed party sources have hinted that certain power brokers within the APC are considering replacing Shettima with a more influential northern figure as Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 election.