The North-East chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially thrown its full support behind President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima for re-election in the 2027 presidential polls. This significant endorsement was formally announced during the North-East APC consultative meeting held on Sunday in Gombe, Gombe State. The high-profile gathering saw a large attendance, including governors Babagana Zulum of Borno, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, and Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, alongside the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, among other senior party leaders and thousands of members from across the zone.

The forum commended President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their transformative leadership and the administration's "Renewed Hope" agenda. Governor Zulum highlighted the administration's achievements over the past two years, citing progress in health, education, youth and women empowerment, revenue generation, and overall improvement in citizens' lives. He emphasized the need for continuity of the Tinubu/Shettima ticket to sustain national unity and ongoing progress, urging all Nigerians to support a ticket that promises unity, progress, and hope for the country.

Despite the overwhelming support, the stakeholders’ summit experienced a moment of chaos when Mustapha Salihu, the APC national vice-chairman (North-East), endorsed President Tinubu for a second term without explicitly mentioning Vice President Shettima. This omission sparked immediate backlash from visibly angered delegates, who began shouting and disrupting the meeting, with some even issuing threats. Salihu was swiftly escorted out by security operatives as tensions flared, fueling existing speculations about Shettima’s fate after previous endorsements had focused solely on Tinubu.

However, party leaders quickly moved to reaffirm the joint ticket. Ali Bukar Dalori, the Deputy National Chairman (North), addressed the crowd and clarified the party's unanimous stance, endorsing both Tinubu and Shettima for a second term. Dalori dismissed reports of a rift between the President and Vice President as unfounded, asserting that Salihu was a "lone ranger" and that all relevant stakeholders, including the governors, members of national and state assemblies, and party chieftains, had pre-agreed to endorse the joint candidature.

Governors also voiced strong support for the joint ticket. Governor Buni, the APC coordinating chairman for the North-East Consultative Forum, appreciated President Tinubu for his leadership amidst challenges, stating that "one term of office may not be adequate" to execute the administration's "daring policies and programmes" effectively. He urged the forum to endorse Tinubu for 2027 to accomplish these reforms. Buni also praised Vice President Shettima for his "unalloyed support and loyalty," enhancing teamwork for the government's success. Similarly, Governor Inuwa Yahaya stressed that Tinubu had demonstrated "boldness, courage and capacity to deliver" and that "two years is too short to get the desired impact," confirming the endorsement of the President by all APC governors from the North-East.

Governor Zulum particularly urged President Tinubu to retain Shettima as his running mate in 2027, emphasizing Shettima's pivotal role, leadership, dedication, and vast experience in advancing the administration's priorities. Zulum highlighted the rare opportunity of having the Vice President from the region and the reflection of trust reposed in them by Tinubu, advocating for the Tinubu/Kashim ticket for 2027 as a mark of respect and agreement. He also pointed out that while economic policies like petrol subsidy removal had consequences, they would lead to positive long-term impacts.

APC National Chairman Ganduje underscored the North-East's crucial role in Nigeria's politics, noting that the region delivered 1.2 million votes in 2023 and aims to triple that number in 2027. He stated the country should be proud of President Tinubu as a "progressive politician" and emphasized that "it is one ticket according to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," thereby reinforcing the inseparable nature of the presidential and vice-presidential roles. The overall consensus among the North-East leaders pointed towards political continuity as the path to a stable and prosperous Nigeria, making this endorsement a significant early boost for President Tinubu's anticipated re-election campaign.