Political observers were taken aback this week when chaos erupted at the All Progressives Congress’s zonal meeting in Gombe, prompting questions about internal unity as President Bola Tinubu and his camp prepare for the 2027 election.
While critics seized on the melee as evidence of a brewing “insurrection” within the ruling party, staunch loyalists and presidency insiders dismissed the uproar as manufactured noise by detractors. At the heart of the controversy is speculation over Vice President Kashim Shettima’s role on the APC ticket. Some voices at the Gombe gathering claimed Shettima is being marginalised in favour of other aspirants, even as the President’s team insists there is no rift.
On Morning Show with Dr. Sam Amadi of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, the analyst noted:
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Historical Precedent: Presidents often have fraught relationships with their deputies. Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos governor saw three deputies removed amid acrimonious circumstances.
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Political Signal: Omission of Shettima’s name in early discussions of the 2027 ticket may be legally harmless, but politically telling—a break in the usual solidarity between presidential and vice‑presidential campaigns.
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Strategic Risks: Talking up Shettima’s indispensability this early could backfire, creating public factionalism and fueling opposition narratives. Conversely, sidelining him might alienate Northern supporters and the Middle Belt.
Dr. Amadi underscored that Nigeria’s upcoming election will test whether religious or regional balancing remains as potent as in 2023’s Muslim‑Muslim ticket. He argued that adding a North‑Central Christian running mate could shore up Tinubu’s standing in the Middle Belt without significantly eroding his base in the predominantly Muslim North.
Ultimately, Dr. Amadi warned, missteps in managing the President–Vice President dynamic could generate more heat than light: “Either camp’s heavy‑handed manoeuvres risk damaging the ticket long before campaigns formally begin.”
