The internal power dynamics within the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to shift as party insiders reveal growing unease over Vice President Kashim Shettima’s standing ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to sources who spoke with Punch, at the centre of the storm is an emerging perception that key political allies from Borno State, including Governor Babagana Zulum and Senator Ali Ndume, may be weakening Shettima’s grip on the vice-presidential slot.
Naija News understands that Governor Zulum, a longtime loyalist and successor to Shettima, has openly criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, particularly on tax reforms and the federal response to insecurity in the North-East.
At the height of the tax policy debate, Zulum dismissed the reforms as “Lagos-centric”, arguing they disproportionately benefited the South-West at the expense of the North.
He has also repeatedly faulted the Federal Government’s security strategy in Borno, once publicly slamming Information Minister Mohammed Idris for what he described as poor communication and a disconnect from the crisis on the ground.
But what sparked major party concern was Zulum’s vocal protest during the APC North-East stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe on June 15, where the governor condemned the failure to mention Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate in the party’s 2027 endorsement.
The event spiralled into chaos when the party’s North-East Zonal Vice Chairman, Mustapha Salihu, declared support for Tinubu’s re-election without naming Shettima as his preferred vice-presidential candidate.
“We want to reaffirm and also adopt the endorsement earlier done by the National Working Committee, that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is endorsed to be a sole candidate for the 2027 election,” Salihu stated.
The omission prompted an angry backlash from Shettima’s supporters in the hall, who erupted in chants of “Shettima! Shettima!! Shettima!!!” while one delegate stormed the stage to confront Salihu.
Zulum, sources said, insisted on the VP’s inclusion in the ticket, demanding that both Tinubu and Shettima be jointly endorsed.
Ndume’s Tensions With The Presidency
Adding fuel to the fire is the uneasy relationship between the Presidency and Senator Ali Ndume, another prominent Borno politician seen as part of Shettima’s circle. Ndume’s persistent criticism of Tinubu’s policies has not gone unnoticed by the party leadership.
On July 17, 2024, the APC’s National Working Committee wrote to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, urging the removal of Ndume as Senate Majority Whip. The letter cited his “unguarded outbursts” and described them as “unbecoming of a senior party member.”
Although Ndume’s current alignment with Shettima remains unclear, party insiders believe the combined actions of both Zulum and Ndume are hurting the VP’s chances of returning to the 2027 ticket.
One APC source told Sunday Punch, “The main problem for Shettima is the conduct of politicians from his state. When people you’re closely associated with keep criticising the government, it becomes a problem of perception.”
In the aftermath of the Gombe fracas, insiders say political jockeying has intensified, with governors and lawmakers discreetly positioning themselves as alternatives should Tinubu opt for a new running mate.
A source familiar with the discussions said, “It’s very much within the realm of possibility. The VP isn’t particularly close to the President. There’s no official word that he’ll be dropped—but it’s also not guaranteed that he won’t.”
Another insider revealed that two principal officers from the National Assembly and four northern governors—two each from the North-East and North-West—are believed to be eyeing the slot, including one person within Shettima’s inner circle.
The source said, “Two principal officers from the National Assembly and about four governors are involved, two each from the North-East and North-West. I know of a few, including one within the VP’s circle.”
The post ‘Tensions Rise In APC As Zulum, Ndume’s Criticism Fuels Shettima VP Ticket Uncertainty’ appeared first on Naija News.