As the uproar over the exclusion of Vice President, Kashim Shettima, by leaders at a rally staged by the All Progressives Congress (APC) , APC, North-East stakeholders on Sunday in Gombe to endorse President Bola Tinubu for a second term still reverberates, the North-Central (APC) Forum is accusing Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, of sponsoring the attack on National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Consequently, the Forum, yesterday asked Governor Zulum to immediately apologise for the Sunday attack on Ganduje, during the North-East stakeholders meeting in Gombe. The Forum alleged that Zulum led a protest, which disrupted the meeting, after Ganduje and APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, endorsed Tinubu for a second term without acknowledging Shettima.
Observers recall that Ganduje and Salihu had to be escorted out of the venue under heavy security as protests broke out at the meeting venue.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga yesterday, the Forum faulted Zulum’s conduct, accusing him of mobilizing thugs against the APC national chairman.
The Forum also defended Ganduje’s action, noting that it is only the President that can nominate the Vice President, who is his running mate in the presidential election.
The statement read, “It is the prerogative of the President to nominate his Vice President. Nobody is going to force President Bola Tinubu to choose who should be his Vice President; it is left for him to nominate whoever he feels he can work with.
“We are condemning the action of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State for mobilizing thugs to attack the National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje. Ganduje is innocent; he was discharging his constitutionally required duties as party national chairman.
“It is not the national chairman’s responsibility to nominate a Vice President. It is also not his responsibility to endorse anyone for Vice President. As a party official, he is meant to be neutral, and he displayed his neutrality at the North-East stakeholders meeting.
“We, the North-Central APC Forum, are asking the Governor of Borno State to apologize for mobilizing thugs against the National Chairman. Governor Babagana Zulum should apologize to Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje immediately.
“As stakeholders who are committed to the progress and development of the party, we are not happy with the conduct of the governor of Borno State.”
Further condemning Zulum’s action, the Forum noted that the Borno governor and the North-East have no reason to feel entitled to any privileges in the APC because the region did not deliver the expected results for Tinubu and the party in the 2023 election.
According to the statement, the North-Central, which gave the APC and President Tinubu more votes in the last election, should be the one demanding special privileges, rather than the North-East.
“It is on record that the opposition won in the North-East in 2023 even though the Vice President is from the zone. The North-Central gave the APC and Tinubu the third highest number of votes – behind the North-West and the South-West.
“So if any zone should feel entitled to special considerations, definitely it is not the North-East, which makes Governor Babagana Zulum’s action even more unfortunate,” the statement added.
The North-Central APC Forum further said Shettima’s emergence as Tinubu’s running mate in 2023 was based on political calculations which may no longer be viable for the next election.
The Forum specifically noted that the Muslim-Muslim APC ticket was adopted as a strategy to win the 2023 election.
“It is possible that a Muslim-Muslim ticket will no longer be the best option in 2027, when President Bola Tinubu will stand for reelection. Also, party leaders will also look at where a larger number of votes are likely to come from. All these issues are to be considered based on the party’s interest, not according to the selfish interest of individuals.
“Mr. President knows what is best for the party, and we hereby align with whatever decision he takes when the time comes. We also expect all party members, no matter their personal interests or how highly placed they are, to align with the President’s decision,” the statement said.
The Forum dismissed speculations that the development is the beginning of a crisis in the ruling APC.
“What happened in Gombe at the North-East stakeholders meeting is an isolated incident which will not affect the state of affairs in our great party. The APC, as a party of progressives, is a strong institution and will not derail under the capable leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje.
“We urge all party faithful to remain calm and focus on the task ahead, which is to actualize a resounding victory in the 2027 election and the off-cycle polls. We are confident that the party will remain strong and united,” the statement further said.
The Forum pledged to deliver six million votes for Tinubu from the North-Central in 2027.
There have been speculations in recent months that the president may drop his vice for either a Christian from the same North-East or another Muslim from the North-West as part of a strategic calculation to win over the North in the next election.