The APC’s North-East zonal meeting culminated in a crisis last week, making it an exciting week.
Videos that emerged following the meeting showed Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the governor of Borno State, clearly dissatisfied with the outcome of the discussion.
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the national chairman of the APC, and his staff were charged with purposefully ignoring Vice President Kashim Shettima in favor of President Bola Tinubu’s second term.
Zulum could be seen practically yelling at Ganduje in a few of the videos. It seemed to be a passionate argument, especially from the governor, even though the APC chairman stayed seated.
Afterwards, Ganduje’s purported sidelining of the vice president was not taken lightly by Kashim Shettima’s followers, including as Engr. Bashir Buba Muhammad and other ardent loyalists.
Muhammad said in a string of posts on his Facebook page that Ganduje was attempting to “steal” the vice president position, just as he had supposedly stolen Kano dollars, including reposting the well-known Kano dollar video story.
He cited Zulum as saying, “No Kashim, no APC in the North,” in another article.
The APC’s Kano State chapter, however, has denied rumors that Ganduje is vying for Shettima’s seat.
Ahmed S. Aruwa, the party’s publicity secretary, told DAILY POST:
“As far as I know, the APC Chairman has never spoken about wanting Kashim Shettima’s seat. We never discussed it, and he does not harbour such an intention.”
He added that the Vice President’s position is to be determined by President Bola Tinubu himself, and there is still time to decide.
He accused the supporters of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of exaggerating the issue, adding, “They have been trying to capitalise on a loophole in the APC but found none.
This is who they are: if the Kwankwasiyya rejoin the APC, they will attempt to wreak havoc within the organization. We would never accept them back because of this.
Professor Kamilu Sani Fagge, a political analyst at Bayero University in Kano, discussed the matter with reporters in the meantime.
According to him, the episode points to a more serious issue within the APC that may cause significant difficulties before the 2027 elections.
Professor Fagge went on to say that while there is still time, the circumstances can indicate a weakness that the opposition could take advantage of.
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