Crisis Rocks APC As Shettima Divides Ruling Party
The banner was already in place when Abdulkarim Lawan walked into the hall in Maiduguri. Stretched behind the podium at the North-East Zonal Public Hearing of the All Progressives Congress (APC), it displayed the familiar faces of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors from the zone and senior party officials.
One face, however, was conspicuously absent.
Lawan, Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly and Nigeria’s longest-serving speaker, immediately noticed that Vice President Kashim Shettima — a son of Borno, former governor of the state and the most senior APC figure from the North-East — was missing from the banner.
When Lawan eventually took the microphone, it was not to address constitutional amendments. Instead, he voiced his displeasure.
“Why would the Vice President’s picture not be included in the banner?” he asked.
His question was met with loud applause from the audience. What might ordinarily have been dismissed as a design oversight quickly took on political meaning, interpreted by many as a deliberate snub — and a provocation.
Why the Omission Matters
This was not the first time Shettima’s image had been omitted at a party function in the region. A similar incident in Gombe State last year reportedly triggered a disruption that forced organisers to halt proceedings. But the Maiduguri episode carried greater weight.
It happened on Shettima’s home turf and at a time when political calculations for the 2027 general election are quietly taking shape.
Within the APC, speculation has grown that President Tinubu may consider replacing Shettima on the party’s next presidential ticket, amid renewed debates over the Muslim–Muslim ticket and increasing pressure — both domestic and foreign — for religious balancing.
The absence of Shettima’s image appeared to give tangible form to what had previously existed largely as whispers within party circles.
Fear of a Political Gamble
Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, an APC chieftain and security expert who served on the intelligence and security team of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council in 2023, warned that replacing Shettima on religious grounds would be a risky political gamble.
According to Mumuni, the northern region currently lacks a Christian candidate with the political structure, grassroots acceptance and national reach capable of offsetting Shettima’s electoral value.
He argued that loyalty and consistency — qualities he said Shettima has demonstrated — are stabilising forces in governance. While acknowledging calls for religious inclusivity, Mumuni cautioned that altering a winning ticket could fracture party unity, disrupt governance and weaken the APC’s prospects in 2027.
North-East Pushback
In the North-East, the idea of dropping Shettima is widely viewed as a betrayal rather than a strategy. That sentiment was echoed by the APC Youth Parliament.
Speaking in Bauchi, its president, Kabiru Garba Kobi, dismissed rumours of Shettima’s replacement as divisive and dangerous, warning that such a move could cost President Tinubu significant support in the region.
Kobi described Shettima as the most unifying political figure in the North-East and a vital bridge between the region and the presidency. He cautioned against listening to what he termed political opportunists who neither contributed to the APC’s 2023 victory nor demonstrated loyalty to the party.
Foreign Pressure, Local Sensitivities
Behind the scenes, sources within the State House acknowledge growing concern about foreign scrutiny, particularly from the United States, over Nigeria’s religious balance. Statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Christian persecution in Nigeria have further intensified debates within the ruling party.
While some APC figures argue that Nigeria’s security leadership already reflects religious diversity across the armed forces and intelligence agencies, others strongly reject any suggestion that electoral decisions should be shaped by foreign expectations.
The result has been rising internal tension, blurring the line between domestic political strategy and external pressure.
North-Central Denial
Amid speculation that the North-Central zone is angling for a Christian vice-presidential candidate, the North-Central APC Forum issued a public denial. The forum stated that it has no interest in the vice-presidential slot and is instead focused on contesting the presidency in 2031.
The group warned that removing Shettima would be a grave political miscalculation that could shrink Tinubu’s vote base and hand the opposition a strategic advantage in the 2027 election.
Public Reactions
Journalist and former presidential spokesperson Reuben Abati described the situation as “a potentially disruptive speculation” capable of damaging both the APC’s fortunes and the relationship between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima as Nigeria moves toward the 2027 polls.
Kabiru Garba Kobi reiterated that any attempt to replace Shettima would cost Tinubu massive support in the North, particularly the North-East.
Others were less cautious. Political advocate Prof. Olusore Afuye claimed that the Muslim–Muslim ticket would not survive into 2027, arguing that Tinubu would need a Christian running mate, most likely from the North-Central region.
Political commentator Engr. Arinze Cajet went further, alleging that a decision had already been made to drop Shettima from the next ticket, citing unresolved internal issues rather than religious considerations.
Silence from the Vice President
Vice President Kashim Shettima has so far remained silent — on the missing banner, the rumours and the growing speculation about his political future.
In Nigerian politics, silence is rarely accidental. It may signal restraint, calculation, or preparation.
What began as a missing photograph in Maiduguri has evolved into a broader test of loyalty, power and political memory within the APC. As 2027 approaches, the ruling party must decide whether altering a familiar equation will secure its future — or unravel it.
