The National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mustapha Salihu, has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu, which notably excluded Vice President Kashim Shettima. Amid speculation of internal discord within the party, Salihu offered a detailed clarification during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.
Speaking on the omission at the APC North-East summit held in Gombe on Sunday, Salihu explained that his endorsement was guided by party tradition and constitutional procedure.
“In the concluding paragraph of my full speech, I paid tribute to Vice President Kashim Shettima, recognising him as our son and affirming the North-East’s support for him,” Salihu said.
“I also acknowledged the National Security Adviser, as well as the ministers and heads of agencies appointed from the region, and thanked President Tinubu for these inclusions—before moving to endorse him as our sole presidential candidate.”
‘Only One Candidate Is Endorsed During Primaries’
Salihu emphasized that party endorsements at the primary level apply solely to presidential candidates, not their running mates.
“In internal party processes, whether at the local government or presidential level, only one individual is endorsed at the primary stage,” he explained.
“Our party’s constitution does not permit joint ticket endorsements at that point. The presidential candidate independently selects a running mate after primaries, although consultations may be held.”
He noted that other party leaders, including Governors Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, had similarly endorsed Tinubu without mentioning Shettima, despite acknowledging the vice president’s regional significance.
Addressing rumors of a rift between the President and Vice President, Salihu dismissed the claims as manufactured distractions.
“Party administration is not conducted on social media, in newspapers, or on television—it is handled internally,” he said.
“Every administration faces attempts to create conflict narratives between the principal and the deputy. These are often fueled by insecure politicians seeking relevance.”
No Regional Discontent
Salihu rejected suggestions that the omission of Shettima from the endorsement may have stirred discontent within the North-East.
“That narrative is unfounded. I’m based in Yola and maintain active engagement with members from Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, and Yobe,” he said.
“We thoroughly deliberated before the summit. Our remarks about the vice president were consistent with the law and internal party guidelines. Other regions weren’t even obliged to do that.”
He further clarified that proposing a running mate before primaries would have been “putting the cart before the horse,” insisting the focus was rightly on endorsing a single candidate.
Tensions at the Gombe Summit
The APC North-East summit, however, descended into tension when Salihu’s endorsement of Tinubu triggered protests from members who questioned the absence of Shettima’s name.
Attempts by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum to pacify the crowd proved ineffective, prompting intervention by security personnel. Calm was eventually restored after APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje addressed the gathering and offered separate commendations for both Tinubu and Shettima.
The Gombe endorsement echoed a similar move on May 22, when 22 APC governors backed Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 election—also without mention of the vice president. Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South, however, publicly distanced himself from the endorsement, expressing concerns and cautioning that such declarations do not guarantee re-election.
Salihu denied any allegations of coercion at the summit, stating, “No delegate was pressured into endorsing a specific position.” He also hinted at ongoing internal investigations and said he expects public apologies within 48 hours.
