Ganduje Under Fire: APC Thugs Go Wild After VP Shettima Is Left Out Of 2027 Ticket
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has reacted to the recent controversy and violent uproar at the party’s North-East stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe State, where the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, was reportedly excluded from an endorsement motion backing President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027.
In a statement released on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, Oliver Okpala, Ganduje categorically denied any intent to endorse Tinubu at Shettima’s expense and called the violent behavior displayed by some party members “grievously irresponsible, condemnable, and unpatriotic.”
🗳️ What Triggered the Uproar
The chaos began when APC Zonal Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, gave an endorsement speech that mentioned only President Tinubu, omitting the Vice President. The move ignited outrage among delegates, who accused Salihu of attempting to sow discord and undermine Shettima’s position.
As tensions escalated, angry party members hurled insults, and security personnel had to escort Salihu out of the venue to prevent a physical attack.
Although Deputy National Chairman (North), Bukar Dalori, later stepped in to include Shettima in a revised endorsement, Ganduje’s own closing remarks again omitted the VP, which only further inflamed suspicions and cut the meeting short.
🤝 “It’s a Joint Ticket,” Says Ganduje
Attempting to defuse the situation, Okpala’s statement reaffirmed that Tinubu and Shettima represent a constitutionally bound joint ticket, and there was never any intention to downplay Shettima’s role.
“His [Ganduje’s] closeness and relationship to the President and Vice President is not in doubt, as it is as solid as the rock of Gibraltar,” the statement emphasized.
Okpala also appealed to APC members to uphold political decorum, warning that political thuggery could reignite dangerous tensions reminiscent of crises that destabilized Nigeria’s First Republic.
🚨 Ganduje Nearly Attacked
Okpala further condemned what he described as a near-assault on the APC Chairman following the meeting, labeling it an attack not just on Ganduje but on the entire party leadership.
“As everyone could see, the National Chairman was going to his car and they accosted him just to attack him,” he said. “Thanks to the Nigerian Police and security operatives who acted promptly, the situation didn’t escalate into total anarchy.”
Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, was praised for his consistent efforts toward party unity and peace, and Okpala called on political leaders to educate their followers about non-violent approaches to resolving grievances.
🧩 The Bigger Picture: Tinubu-Shettima 2027 Ticket in Jeopardy?
This incident has reignited speculations that President Tinubu may consider replacing Shettima ahead of the 2027 elections, possibly in a bid to broaden APC’s regional or religious appeal.
While Ganduje’s camp has strongly refuted any such plan, the tension within the party suggests deeper undercurrents, especially as regional loyalties and political ambitions begin to surface.
🔍 Conclusion
The APC leadership has some fence-mending to do. While Ganduje continues to assert his loyalty to both President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, the fallout in Gombe shows that unity within the ruling party may be more fragile than it appears.
All eyes are now on how the APC resolves this public rift—and what it could mean for the road to 2027.
