Despite the 2027 general election still two years away, rumblings within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over an alleged plot to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate have ignited tensions in the party, leading to a violent outburst at a North-East stakeholders’ meeting.
The meeting, held on Sunday at the International Conference Centre in Gombe State, ended in chaos after a faction of party supporters, loyal to the Vice President, clashed with the APC’s Zonal Vice Chairman for the North-East, Mustapha Salihu.
In a viral video circulating on social media, a furious party member was seen striking Salihu with a plastic chair while he attempted to flee the hall. Another visibly angry delegate hurled a black plastic bucket at the embattled zonal leader, adding to the commotion.
The gathering was originally organised to reaffirm support for President Tinubu’s anticipated second-term bid. However, it quickly descended into turmoil amid speculations that Shettima might be dropped from the 2027 presidential ticket—a move that has sharply divided the party’s North-East base.
