“Irrespective of who is right or wrong among the key players of the Gombe 15th episode—whether for or against the Vice President—I have this to say: The opposition forces are watching, coalitions are brewing, and internal fractures may threaten the APC’s unity and the President’s 2027 prospects.”
By Dr. Dauda Adamu
That said, we reaffirm our unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The confidence he has placed in his Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON—alongside his leadership, reform agenda, and political resilience—remains commendable. Equally important is his alliance with Vice President Shettima, a partnership that must not be treated as expendable. Their synergy is not only strategic but also forms a formidable foundation for the APC’s continued governance success.
As the North-East APC Vice Chairman rightly stated, the party’s presidential ticket is a joint one. While the President has the constitutional prerogative to choose his running mate—as he did with Senator Shettima in 2022—that mandate is collective, and both leaders must be respected throughout their tenure.
At the heart of the matter is the political theatre that unfolded in Gombe during the North-East APC Zonal Meeting on June 15, 2025. What was publicly presented as a routine endorsement of President Tinubu’s anticipated second-term bid turned out to be a carefully choreographed display of exclusion, power signaling, and quiet political subversion. Beneath the cultural fanfare and ceremonial color lay an unmistakable subtext: a glaring attempt to sideline the Vice President in his own geopolitical zone.
To the casual observer, the event may have appeared as a benign show of party loyalty. But those fluent in the unspoken language of Nigerian politics—as some of us became during the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker era—know that in our political arena, silence can thunder, and symbolism can cut deep.
The Vice President, the highest-ranking political figure from the North-East and co-pilot of the Tinubu administration, was neither properly acknowledged nor accorded the respect his office commands at an event that should have exemplified unity and strategic alignment.
This was no accidental oversight—it was a message.
Despite attempts by party actors to spin the event as a “regional affair,” the optics spoke louder than any press release. The implications were national, deeply political, and far-reaching. What transpired casts serious doubt on the APC’s internal cohesion and reveals a creeping culture of political maneuvering cloaked in consensus. If left unchecked, such conduct risks eroding the collaborative leadership that brought the Tinubu–Shettima ticket to power in 2023.
The APC Constitution (2014, as amended) is clear and unequivocal on matters of internal governance. The nomination of presidential and vice-presidential candidates resides exclusively with the party’s National Convention, guided by established procedures and democratic norms. No zonal structure—however ambitious—possesses the constitutional backing to make endorsements or preempt national decisions. Article 13 of the party’s constitution clearly delineates these limits. The North-East Zonal Executive Committee, as enthusiastic as it may be, overreached.
The Deputy National Vice Chairman (North-East), who spearheaded the event, may claim legitimacy under the guise of zonal unity, but his authority does not extend to determining the party’s presidential trajectory. Whether driven by political miscalculation or calculated design, this maneuver constitutes dangerous overreach. It may be an early testing of waters—an attempt to gauge public reaction to a potential replacement of Vice President Shettima ahead of 2027.
Were the Gombe episode an isolated incident, it might be dismissed. But the signs are too layered and consistent to ignore.
For example, a respected Christian elder from my home state of Taraba expressed dismay over the event’s timing—held on a Sunday morning, a sacred hour for worship. He viewed the scheduling as insensitive to Christian members and indicative of a deeper disregard for inclusivity and national balance.
When political decisions ignore Nigeria’s religious and cultural diversity, they send the wrong signal—not just to party members, but to a nation watching closely for fairness and unity. Such missteps, whether deliberate or careless, fuel narratives that the opposition is eager to exploit.
Even more troubling is the emerging pattern: the Vice President’s alleged exclusion from strategic party engagements, the muted celebration of his achievements, and a noticeable shift in media tone. To an experienced national politician like myself, this appears to be part of a carefully unfolding script. In Nigerian politics, patterns often precede political moves.
Yet more concerning than the act itself is the silence that has followed. The quiet from the Presidency, party elders, and national stakeholders is not just inaction—it borders on tacit endorsement. If, as we are told, there is no discord between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, then such moments must be addressed—not ignored. The perception of unity at the top is not just symbolic; it is crucial for national stability and internal party discipline.
The Vice President bears the weighty responsibility of fostering unity across the North-East and the broader North. Yet, his role is challenged by lingering resentment from those who believe they were more deserving of his spot on the ticket.
While questions about his effectiveness in uniting stakeholders may be valid, they must be viewed within the constraints of his office. As Vice President, he operates on a joint mandate and is answerable to the President. His independence, especially in intra-party matters, is often limited by broader political realities.
Still, criticism must be balanced with respect for the office. Disagreements are inevitable, but they must be expressed constructively—not in ways that diminish institutional dignity or leadership unity.
Senator Shettima is not a political accessory. He is a constitutional co-leader, politically strategic, and symbolically central to national balance. His relevance is grounded in the electoral mandate of over eight million Nigerians who voted for the Tinubu–Shettima ticket. To undermine him is to weaken the very foundation upon which the APC administration stands.
President Tinubu’s choice of Shettima as running mate was a masterstroke—a decision that brought northern strength, strategic insight, and regional balance to the campaign. That partnership has delivered, and it must not be casually disregarded or quietly dismantled under the guise of regional zeal.
This is not a call to suppress ambition. Ambition is healthy. But it must be pursued within the bounds of party ethics, constitutional limits, and respect for current officeholders. Undermining a sitting Vice President while he is still in office is not just tactless—it is dangerously destabilizing.
Let us be clear: the opposition is watching. Every crack within the APC, every public display of disunity, every breach of protocol, and every slight against its leadership gives fuel to rival coalitions. If the APC continues on this trajectory, it won’t be external forces that defeat it—it will be internal sabotage masquerading as regional loyalty.
The Gombe episode must serve as a wake-up call. The APC must govern with humility, discipline, and foresight. Victory without tact breeds arrogance. Arrogance, left unchecked, breeds collapse.
The Vice President deserves his rightful place at the table—not as a gesture of sentiment, but as a constitutional and political necessity. The APC must return to its founding values, respect its internal structures, and demonstrate that unity is not a slogan—it is a governing principle.
Because if we fail to defend the house we built, the opposition won’t need to storm the gates—we will have left them open ourselves.
Adamu (Ph.D. in view) is an APC Chieftain, inTaraba State and can be reached at dauda.a.adamu@gmail.com
