By Abdullahi Sani Yola
As Nigeria inches toward the 2027 general elections, cracks are widening within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North-East, with influential party stakeholders issuing a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: replace Vice President Kashim Shettima or risk losing the region.
In separate interviews with our correspondent, party leaders from Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states accused the Vice President of marginalisation, favouritism, and political sabotage — warning that his continued presence on the APC ticket could spell disaster for the party’s re-election hopes in the region.
“Shetima is our biggest headache in the North-East,” said Hajia Hadiza Aliyu, an APC stalwart from Bauchi State. “He has cornered all benefits meant for the region to Borno alone. If Tinubu wants our votes in 2027, Shettima cannot be on the ticket.”
The complaints against Vice President Shettima revolve around perceived bias toward Borno State, his home state, in terms of federal appointments, project allocation, and political recognition.
From Adamawa, Alhaji Usman Umar Gieri lamented that major APC chieftains who worked for the party’s 2023 victory across the region have been neglected.
“Not one significant appointment was given to Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, or Yobe. It’s all about Borno. Why should we mobilize again in 2027 when we’ve been abandoned?” he asked.
Aminu Mustapha, another party leader from Adamawa, echoed the sentiment:
“Shettima is a political liability. He has no electoral value beyond Borno, and even there, his popularity is fading. Tinubu must choose a more popular and inclusive running mate if he wants to retain the North-East.”
A major flashpoint was Shettima’s alleged unilateral reversal of the appointment of Dr. Umar Abubakar Hashidu from Gombe State as Managing Director/CEO of the North East Development Commission (NEDC). Stakeholders say the move violated the NEDC Act, which mandates rotational leadership among the six North-East states.
Instead, Mohammed Alkali Goni, a Borno native whose tenure had expired under the Buhari administration, was reinstated.
“This is a gross abuse of power,” said Alhaji Garba Tijani from Gombe. “Shettima has hijacked the commission and turned it into a Borno-only affair. That’s not what we voted for.”
Disillusionment with the Vice President’s leadership has reportedly triggered mass defection from the party across the North-East.
From Taraba, Hon. Jonathan Albert reported that many APC loyalists have crossed over to other parties, citing neglect and zero reward for their political efforts.
“We are fed up. Our leaders have been sidelined. Shettima’s actions are killing the APC in Taraba,” he said.
Mr. Michael Zira from Adamawa’s Michika LGA added:
“Tinubu risks losing the North-East completely. There’s no visible impact of Shettima’s office in the region, except in Borno. He is fast becoming more unpopular — even in his backyard.”
The growing backlash against Shettima was visible during a recent APC Zonal Stakeholders Meeting in Gombe, where only Borno State delegates endorsed him for a 2027 return. Other states pointedly withheld support — a rare display of open dissent within a ruling party bloc.
“That tells you everything,” said Bakura Idris Zana from Yobe. “Shettima has lost the confidence of the region. We are like orphans now in APC.”
The message from the zone is now crystal clear: Keep Shettima, and lose the North-East.
As internal party dynamics heat up and presidential ambitions realign ahead of 2027, President Tinubu will need to weigh loyalty against electoral viability — and consider whether his current deputy still serves as an asset or an obstacle.