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    APC Vice Chair Explains Why Shettima Was Omitted from Tinubu Endorsement

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    The National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mustapha Salihu, has defended his recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu without mentioning Vice President Kashim Shettima, saying it was based on party procedures and not a sign of political division.

    Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Salihu explained that his decision followed the party’s constitution, which does not permit joint endorsements of presidential and vice-presidential aspirants at the primary stage.

    “At that level, there is only one ticket up for endorsement—that of the president,” Salihu said. “The choice of a running mate is left to the presidential candidate after he emerges from the primaries.”

    Salihu came under criticism following Sunday’s APC North-East Zonal Summit in Gombe, where he publicly endorsed President Tinubu for re-election in 2027 but did not include Shettima in the endorsement declaration. The move sparked protests from party members, who felt the vice president—an indigene of Borno State in the North-East—was being sidelined.

    Addressing the uproar, Salihu clarified that his full speech had acknowledged and praised Vice President Shettima, as well as other key political figures from the region, including the National Security Adviser and several ministers.

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    “I recognised Kashim Shettima as our son and stated that we are proud of him. I did the same for other key officials from the region. But when it came to the endorsement, I was following the constitution,” he said.

    He also noted that the governors of Gombe and Yobe, who were present at the summit, also endorsed only Tinubu, not the joint ticket. “Even they understood the limits of the party process at this stage,” he added.

    Salihu dismissed suggestions of internal conflict between Tinubu and Shettima, blaming what he called “conflict entrepreneurs” for trying to stir division within the party.

    “These rumours are the usual noise you hear in politics. If you’re secure in your role, you don’t pay attention to them. The administration of a political party is not done on social media,” he said.

    The Gombe summit, however, ended in disarray when Salihu’s endorsement speech was interrupted by angry party members demanding recognition for Shettima. Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum tried to calm the crowd, but security operatives were later forced to step in.

    APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, eventually addressed the gathering and offered separate praise for both President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, which helped defuse tensions.

    The endorsement came on the heels of a similar move by 22 APC governors on May 22, who also declared support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027—without mentioning Shettima.

    However, Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South has since distanced himself from the endorsement. He warned that such early declarations may not guarantee victory and added that he “pitied Tinubu” for the political pressure surrounding his second-term ambition.

    Responding to claims that delegates were forced to support Tinubu at the Gombe event, Salihu denied any form of coercion. “Nobody was threatened. The endorsement was voluntary. It was within the law,” he stated.

    He also revealed that internal reviews were ongoing and demanded public apologies from those spreading false claims, giving a 48-hour ultimatum.

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