POLITICS
Tension in APC as party chief insists Shettima VP endorsement is Illegal
Mustapha Salihu, the National Vice Chairman (North East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has doubled down on his refusal to endorse Vice President Kashim Shettima for renomination as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate.
Mr Salihu provoked violent reactions from delegates to the APC’s North-east zonal meeting when he proposed the endorsement of President Tinubu for renomination as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election, but was silent on the fate of the vice president.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that party leaders in the zone had planned to use the Gombe meeting to send a message to the president of their desire that their zone, through Mr Shettima, a former two-term governor of Borno State, retains the vice presidency under a Mr Tinubu’s second term
The position was in reaction to speculations that Mr Tinubu was considering picking a different sidekick from another northern zone.
However, in what some believed was a contravention of the meeting’s agenda, some party officials, including National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and Mr Salihu, the topmost party official in the North-east, proposed President Tinubu’s endorsement but kept ominously mum on the fate of Mr Shettima.
In swift reactions, Mr Shettima’s supporters swooped on the two party officials, who had to be escorted out of the meeting by security officials.
Video footage from the event, reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES, shows Mr Salihu ducking a plastic chair hurled at him by angry protesters. In the background, the voices of Borno Governor Babagana Zulum were audible, as he tried to calm the violence.
Salihu defends position
On Channels TV’s Politics on Monday live programme, Mr Salihu said endorsing Mr Shettima alongside President Tinubu contravenes the party’s constitution, stressing that the North-East APC stakeholders’ endorsement of President Tinubu was not supposed to be conditional.
“We cannot, as North East APC stakeholders, because our son is the vice president, endorse Asiwaju with a condition. We cannot do that. We are endorsing Asiwaju unconditionally. And given the fact that constitutionally, it is only one ticket we have, we don’t have the vice president ticket. If we put the words in Asiwaju’s mouth and we now say we have endorsed Kashim Shettima, we are putting the cart before the horse,” Mr Salihu said.
Some party stakeholders in the region have accused Mr Salihu of betraying the vice president, a son of the region.
However, the party official clarified that top APC stakeholders from the region at the meeting, including Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, APC North East Campaign Coordinator and convener of the meeting, and Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, also endorsed President Tinubu without mentioning Mr Shettima.
“It may interest you to know that in party politics, we only have one ticket for executives – chairman, governors and president – during the primaries. There is no party guideline or constitution that allows the president to run party primaries with a running mate. It is after the primaries, when the president becomes a candidate, that he will now pick his runningmate, which usually is his prerogative.
“Even though the party may be consulted and other stakeholders may be consulted, it is solely the prerogative of the candidate to choose a running mate. That informed the decision of not only me but the Yobe governor and the Gombe governor. During their speeches, they praised our son (Mr Shettima) and expressed confidence in him, and also endorsed the return of the president,” Mr Salisu explained.
The party chief condemned politicians in the region who allegedly sponsored thugs to the meeting, threatening legal action over the violence perpetrated against him.
“This is not unconnected with the fact that some people are still practising the politics of 1979. Politics has moved from barbarism and decadence. How can you think that bringing such thugs into the summit to threaten people will now show your popularity in the zone?”
However, Mr Salihu said disposition does not mean he is not supporting Mr Shettima.
“We are endorsing Asiwaju unconditionally. We are proud that Kashim is our son; we respect him and we will stand by him. But it is the prerogative of Asiwaju to determine whether Shettima is going to be his running mate or not. We are not endorsing Asiwaju with conditions,” Mr Salihu concluded.
The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, has alleged that Justice Peter Lifu acted in contempt of court by issuing a judgment that deregistered the ADC and four other political parties despite a pending appeal.
According to Abdullahi, the Court of Appeal had directed that no action should be taken on the matter until the appeal is heard on October 27. He argued that proceeding with the judgment before the appellate court’s determination amounts to a disregard for the court’s directive.
“Justice Peter Lifu, the judge who gave the judgment that deregistered the ADC and four other parties, should be arrested. The Appeal Court said don’t act until the case is heard on October 27. He’s acting in contempt of court,” Abdullahi stated.
The remarks add a new dimension to the legal and political controversy surrounding the status of the affected political parties, with the matter expected to be further addressed when the appeal comes up for hearing.
KANO — Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso has been announced as the deputy governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mustapha is the son of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a leading figure in the party and former governor of Kano State.
The announcement comes amid ongoing political realignments within the NDC in Kano. The party recently unveiled Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo as its governorship candidate for the state, following consultations among party stakeholders.
Political observers say the emergence of Mustapha Kwankwaso as running mate is expected to generate discussions within Kano’s political landscape, given his family ties to the influential Kwankwasiyya movement led by his father.
The NDC has continued to position itself as a major opposition force ahead of the 2027 elections, with the party’s leadership expressing confidence in its chances across key states, including Kano.
Party officials are expected to provide further details on the candidature and campaign strategy in the coming days.
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, has firmly stated that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, exerts no influence on party decisions or candidate selections.
Umeh made the clarification on Monday during an interview, while addressing speculations and allegations that he was involved in influencing positions within the party.
The NDC has come under heavy criticism following its recently concluded primary elections across the country. In response to claims linking Obi to the process, Umeh distanced the former Anambra governor from any involvement.
“Peter Obi has not been involved in influencing who becomes what in the NDC. He’s somebody whom you can hardly see drag into a process like this,” Senator Umeh said.
He added that in Obi’s local government area, residents are fully aware of developments and do not require directives from him on whom to support.
Umeh attributed his own decision to join the NDC to the party’s leadership under Senator Seriake Dickson. “It’s because he’s the chairman or the leader of that party that made us join the party, because I work with him in the Senate, and I know his character. I know he stands on national issues,” he explained.
The senator noted that the entry of Peter Obi and former Kano Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso into the NDC triggered a surge of aspirants seeking various positions. He dismissed complaints of extortion during the primaries, saying those making the claims were attempting to manipulate the process and ultimately “had their fingers burnt.”
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