reports that stakeholders’ meeting of the in Gombe State descended into chaos on Sunday after Vice President Kashim Shettima was conspicuously excluded from a public endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid.

The North-East zonal meeting, attended by high-ranking party officials including APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, federal ministers, governors, and lawmakers, was expected to affirm the party’s cohesion in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

But tensions flared when the APC’s National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, endorsed President Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for 2027 without any mention of Vice President Shettima, who hails from Borno State — a political stronghold in the region.

“We in the North-East unanimously endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term,” Salihu declared to the crowd. “The region is solidly behind his leadership and accomplishments.”

The omission of Shettima’s name provoked an immediate uproar among delegates sympathetic to the Vice President.

Footage from television concerning the event showed the sound of shouts of “What about Shettima?” erupted from the audience, quickly escalating into physical altercations.

Some delegates attempted to storm the podium and hurled chairs and other objects, targeting Salihu.

Live footage broadcast by AIT captured security personnel swiftly intervening to escort Salihu out of the venue amid the melee.

In a bid to calm frayed nerves, Deputy National Chairman (North) Bukar Dalori took to the stage and offered a dual endorsement.

“Let me be clear,” Dalori stated. “The ticket that brought us success in 2023 is the ticket we believe can deliver again in 2027 — that is Tinubu and Shettima, together.”

While Dalori’s comments were received with some applause, the atmosphere remained tense.

Matters deteriorated again when APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje delivered a 10-minute speech that also failed to acknowledge the Vice President’s role or candidacy.

“The APC remains the party of progress and national unity,” Ganduje said. “Under President Tinubu’s leadership, we are repositioning Nigeria for greatness.”

Once again, the omission of Shettima’s name ignited angry reactions, with chants and boos erupting from the crowd.

Ganduje was forced to end his speech abruptly and was escorted out under tight security as delegates surged toward the stage.

The meeting was ultimately cut short as tensions could not be contained.

The incident comes amid speculation of growing pressure for President Tinubu to drop Shettima from the 2027 ticket in favour of a Christian northerner — a move believed by some political strategists to be aimed at balancing the religious equation in the country.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has reportedly emerged as a potential running mate. Though Dogara has made no public declaration, his name is said to be gaining traction among certain northern blocs.

The president fielded a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023 and with an unraveling economy which has worsened poverty, fielding the same ticket again may be a political miscalculation.