A recent political gathering of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State stirred up quite a bit of drama when the party's National Vice Chairman for the North East, Mustapha Salihu, announced an endorsement for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election in 2027. This move, however, sparked anger among some party members and supporters of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who felt that Shettima, being from the North East himself, was unfairly left out of the endorsement.
During a lively interview on Channels Television, Salihu strongly denied any disloyalty or division within the party concerning Vice President Shettima. He explained that the party's rules at this stage only allow for the endorsement of a presidential candidate, not a joint ticket that includes a vice president. According to Salihu, a running mate is typically chosen by the presidential candidate after the primaries.
The controversy escalated at the summit, with reports even suggesting that angry attendees nearly physically confronted Salihu after his speech. However, Salihu maintained that he had praised and acknowledged Vice President Shettima in his speech before the endorsement. He stressed that the North East APC leadership fully supports Shettima, stating, "We eulogized Kashim Shettima as our son and expressed confidence in him."
Salihu also dismissed rumors of a growing disagreement between the President and his Vice President, calling them "conspiracy theories" spread by those who benefit from conflict. He insisted that the party acted completely within its rules and that the endorsement of President Tinubu was unconditional. While the incident has highlighted some strong feelings within the region about Shettima's political future, Salihu urged everyone to remain calm and focus on unity and proper party procedures as the 2027 elections approach.
