Tinubu Endorsement Stirs North-East APC: Shettima Omission Explained Amidst Rumors

Abuja, Nigeria – The All Progressives Congress (APC) North-East zonal summit in Gombe, held on Sunday, June 15, 2025, ended in a stir after a public endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election conspicuously omitted the name of his Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

The omission, which triggered protests and questions from some party members, has since been clarified by Mustapha Salihu, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), amidst persistent rumors of internal party friction.Speaking on Monday, June 16, Salihu explained that the decision to endorse only President Tinubu was in line with party convention and constitutional provisions regarding primary elections.

“In party politics, we have only one ticket at the primary stage—for the executive chairman, local government chairman, governors, and president,” Salihu stated.

“There is no provision in our constitution that allows for the endorsement of a joint ticket at that level.”He further elaborated that the choice of a running mate is the constitutional prerogative of the presidential candidate only after the primaries.

Salihu pointed out that in his full speech at the summit, he had “eulogised Kashim Shettima, recognising him as our son and expressing that we stand by him as people of the North-East,” along with acknowledging other North-East indigenes in key government positions.

This rationale, he noted, also informed similar endorsements by governors like Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, who similarly endorsed Tinubu without jointly endorsing Shettima, even while praising the Vice President.The incident in Gombe, which saw efforts by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum to restore calm having little effect, eventually saw tensions ease after APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje addressed the gathering, offering separate praise for both Tinubu and Shettima.

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The Gombe endorsement follows a similar pattern observed on May 22, 2025, when 22 APC governors adopted Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, also without explicitly mentioning the Vice President.

This earlier endorsement had also drawn attention, with Borno South Senator Ali Ndume publicly dissociating himself and warning that such endorsements do not always guarantee re-election.

Salihu vehemently dismissed speculation of a rift between the President and his Vice, labeling such rumors as distractions fueled by “conflict entrepreneurs” and “insecure politicians.” He asserted that party administration is handled internally, not through social media or news outlets.

He also dismissed concerns of discontent within the North-East due to the omission, stating, “Anybody saying there’s discontent is simply wrong.”

He maintained that the party did what the law permits, praising their son (Shettima) without creating a non-existent “vice-presidential ticket” for endorsement.

He also denied claims of coercion at the Gombe summit and hinted at ongoing investigations into the commotion, expecting public apologies within 48 hours from those involved.