Why Some Top Borno Politicians Want Shettima Dropped as Vice President in 2027

In a recent gathering of All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders from Nigeria’s North East region, held in Gombe on June 15, 2025, tensions flared over the future of Vice President Kashim Shettima. The meeting, which was intended to rally support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate Shettima in the 2027 general elections, unexpectedly turned into a scene of chaos and division.

The controversy erupted when Mustapha Salihu, the National Vice Chairman of the APC in the North East zone, failed to mention Shettima while endorsing Tinubu for another term. This omission did not go unnoticed. Supporters of the vice president, particularly from Borno State, reacted strongly, expressing their outrage by throwing objects at Salihu and disrupting the event. Security had to intervene to prevent serious harm to him.

The anger stemmed from long-standing grievances among some top politicians from Borno, where Shettima hails. These individuals feel that Shettima has not shown them enough gratitude or respect, despite their support for his political rise, from serving as a commissioner to becoming governor and now vice president. Some believe he should be replaced as Tinubu’s running mate in the next election.

These critics argue that the North East did not contribute significantly to Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election and therefore should not expect to retain the vice-presidential slot. They have reportedly been lobbying within the corridors of power in Abuja to push for a new candidate from another geopolitical zone.

Despite this internal opposition, many within the party remain loyal to Shettima. Prominent figures like Dr. Umar Duhu and others condemned the idea of removing Shettima as “absurd” and a betrayal of the North East’s contributions to the APC. They emphasized that Shettima has not committed any wrongdoing that would justify his removal and that his leadership deserves recognition.

Ali Bukar Dalori, Deputy National Chairman of the APC (North), dismissed the incident as a temporary setback, reaffirming that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket remains firm and non-negotiable. He emphasized that such disagreements are normal in politics and do not compromise the party’s unity.

Others, however, see the event as a wake-up call. A senior APC figure from the North East compared the current situation to past betrayals, recalling how Ambassador Babagana Kingibe was sidelined during the 1993 Social Democratic Party (SDP) convention. There is a growing sentiment that the North East must stand united and ensure its voice is heard in national politics.

Dr. Hassan Zanna Boguma, a Special Adviser to Borno Governor Babagana Zulum, said calls for Governor Zulum to apologize for the violence were unfounded. According to him, the unrest revealed deeper issues of regional marginalization and political hypocrisy within the party.

While the fracas in Gombe has exposed cracks within the APC’s North East coalition, it also highlighted the deep loyalty many still hold for Vice President Shettima. Whether the tensions will lead to a major realignment or simply fade as political noise remains to be seen. What is clear is that the battle for influence within the APC is intensifying as the 2027 elections draw closer.