APC Northeast National Vice Chairman Mustapha Salihu

A public endorsement of President Bola Tinubu by the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-East leadership has sparked controversy following the omission of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s name during the declaration. The development, which occurred during the APC North-East Summit in Gombe on Sunday, led to protests from party members and speculation about a possible rift between the president and his deputy.

The party’s National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, who announced the endorsement, has since come forward to explain his decision. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on yesterday, Salihu stated that his omission of Shettima’s name was not a snub but was in line with party convention and constitutional guidelines.

“In my full speech—the last paragraph before the endorsement—I eulogised Kashim Shettima, recognising him as our son and expressing that we stand by him,” Salihu said. “But when it comes to endorsing a candidate for the primary, the party only recognises a single ticket — the presidency.”

He stressed that the process of endorsing candidates at the primary level does not include vice presidential aspirants, noting that running mates are selected only after the presidential candidate emerges.

“There is no provision in our constitution that allows for the endorsement of a joint ticket at the level of party primaries,” he added. “Endorsing both would have been inappropriate.”

The omission nevertheless sparked an uproar at the summit. Some delegates reportedly protested, prompting an intervention by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, though efforts to restore calm initially failed. Security operatives had to step in before order was eventually restored.

APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje later addressed the gathering and offered praise for both Tinubu and Shettima in an effort to douse tensions.

The controversy comes amid growing speculation of friction between the president and the vice president, a notion Salihu firmly dismissed.

“These rumours are distractions. The administration of a party is not run on social media or in newspapers. It’s handled internally,” he said. “Such talk is often spread by conflict entrepreneurs who thrive on sowing discord.”

Salihu also pushed back against claims that party members were coerced into supporting the endorsement.

“No one was threatened to toe a particular line,” he said. “I’ve engaged with members from across the zone. We followed due process and praised our son [Shettima] while abiding by the law.”