The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, has raised concerns over the absence of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s photograph on a banner displayed at an All Progressives Congress (APC) event held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The event, which brought together APC leaders from across the North East, was organised as part of the party’s zonal public hearing on proposed amendments to its constitution. It was attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s allies, five APC governors from the North East, and other top party officials.
However, a banner displayed at the venue sparked controversy after it was noticed that Vice President Shettima’s picture was missing. The banner reportedly featured images of President Tinubu, the five APC governors from the region, and the party’s National Legal Adviser, but did not include the vice president, who is from Borno State and the North East.
Speaking during the event, Speaker Abdulkarim Lawan openly expressed his displeasure over the omission. He described the action as unfair and inappropriate, especially since the programme was taking place in Maiduguri, the hometown of Vice President Shettima.
Lawan questioned the reason behind the exclusion and warned that such actions could create division and tension within the party if not properly addressed.
“This same issue caused the problem in Gombe, and now it is happening again in Borno,” the Speaker said, referring to a similar incident that disrupted an APC meeting in Gombe State last year. “I don’t understand the organisers’ reason, but it is not right.”
He further asked how the image of a sitting vice president, who is also a prominent son of the North East, could be missing from a banner at a major party event in his home state.
The Speaker’s remarks were met with loud applause from many party members and supporters present at the venue, showing broad support for his position. Some attendees were seen nodding in agreement, while others murmured dissatisfaction over the incident.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, a former governor of Borno State, is a key figure in the APC and played a major role in the party’s victory in the 2023 general elections. His political journey began in Borno, where he served as commissioner, senator, and later governor before becoming Nigeria’s vice president.
Many party members in the North East regard Shettima as a symbol of the region’s political relevance at the national level. As such, his absence from the banner was viewed by some as disrespectful and politically insensitive.
The APC has faced internal disagreements in recent times, particularly over issues of zoning, appointments, and party structure. Although the party remains in power at the federal level, incidents like the one in Maiduguri have raised concerns about internal unity and communication.
The reference by Speaker Lawan to the Gombe incident points to an earlier controversy in 2024, when an APC event in the state reportedly turned chaotic over the omission or placement of certain leaders’ images and names. That situation led to heated arguments and disrupted the programme before calm was restored.
The North East zonal public hearing was part of the APC’s ongoing efforts to review and amend its constitution in preparation for future elections and internal reforms. Party leaders from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states were present to make inputs and share views on the proposed changes.
Governors, lawmakers, party executives, and other stakeholders used the platform to discuss ways to strengthen party discipline, improve internal democracy, and address grievances within the APC.
Despite the tension caused by the missing photograph, the event continued as planned after the Speaker aired his concerns. There was no official response from the organisers at the venue regarding the omission.
As of the time of filing this report, the APC leadership had not issued a statement explaining why Vice President Shettima’s image was not included on the banner.
Some party members expressed hope that the issue would be treated as an honest mistake, while others urged the party to be more careful in handling sensitive matters involving top leaders.
For many APC supporters in the North East, the incident served as a reminder of the need for unity and respect within the party, especially at a time when it controls the federal government and several states.
Speaker Lawan’s protest has now drawn national attention to what might have otherwise been dismissed as a minor oversight, highlighting how small issues can quickly grow into major concerns in Nigeria’s political space.