A stakeholders’ summit organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State took a dramatic turn on Sunday as tensions escalated over perceived exclusion of Vice President Kashim Shettima from 2027 election endorsements.
The uproar began during a speech by APC North-East Vice Chairman Mustapha Salihu, who declared President Bola Tinubu as the party’s uncontested candidate for the next presidential election cycle—without acknowledging Shettima.
READ ALSO: APC dismisses rumours of Tinubu sidestepping Shettima for 2027
His remarks quickly triggered outrage from attendees, with many voicing anger and creating chaos in the venue.
Security personnel had to swiftly evacuate Salihu as the situation deteriorated.
In an effort to restore calm, Deputy National Chairman Bukar Dalori stepped up and publicly endorsed both Tinubu and Shettima for a second term, a move widely interpreted as damage control.
Despite Dalori’s assurances, discontent persisted among party faithful.
When APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje addressed the gathering, he once again endorsed only Tinubu during a 10-minute speech, omitting any reference to Shettima. The omission further fueled agitation among the crowd.
Ganduje was also escorted out under tight security as the venue descended further into disorder.
Footage from the summit circulated on social media, showing attendees shouting and the event coming to a premature end.
The development adds fuel to ongoing speculation about Vice President Shettima’s standing in the current administration.
In April, the presidency had to publicly debunk rumours suggesting that Shettima was being sidelined from official engagements.
Stanley Nkwocha, senior special assistant to the president on media and communications (office of the vice-president), described the reports as a “deliberate and well-planned orchestration of falsehood.”
 in Gombe State took a dramatic turn on Sunday as tensions escalated over perceived exclusion of Vice President Kashim Shettima from 2027 election endorsements.){kind=link}