Fresh revelations have emerged about the quiet storm brewing within the corridors of power, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) grapples with internal divisions threatening the unity of the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The latest drama reportedly played out at the North-East Zonal Consultative Meeting of the APC, held on Sunday in Gombe State. What was meant to be a routine gathering of party loyalists turned into a heated exchange of political muscle, as top APC governors and stakeholders from the North-East clashed over the fate of Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima.
According to impeccable sources within the party, the commotion that disrupted the closed-door meeting was rooted in growing calls from certain governors for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to drop Shettima as his running mate in the 2027 presidential race.
“There’s a growing feeling among some power blocs that Shettima has become politically expendable,” a senior APC chieftain told this reporter on condition of anonymity. “Some governors are lobbying to have a fresh face from the North-East or even from the North-Central region as Tinubu’s running mate in the next election cycle.”
The development has reportedly unsettled key loyalists of the Vice President, who see the move as a betrayal and a calculated plot to weaken Shettima’s influence both within the presidency and across the North.
Observers say the attempt to undermine the Vice President could create a dangerous precedent, as it sends signals of instability within the APC hierarchy. Some analysts have warned that forcing a change in Tinubu’s ticket could alienate North-Eastern voters and fracture the fragile coalition that helped deliver victory in 2023.
“Shettima has been loyal, strategic, and deliberate in holding the northern political structure together in the post-Buhari era,” said political commentator Dr. Hassan Maikudi. “Removing him would be a miscalculation of historic proportions.”
However, proponents of change argue that new political realities call for a reconfiguration of the APC ticket. They cite growing discontent in the North-Central and parts of the North-West, where some governors believe their regions have been shortchanged in federal appointments and influence.
One of the governors reportedly spearheading the quiet revolt is said to have told his close circle: “This is politics. No position is permanent. We need someone who can energize the base and deliver a bloc vote from key states. Sentiment cannot drive strategy.”
The Presidency has remained silent on the matter, but sources within Aso Rock confirm that President Tinubu is aware of the brewing tension and has been consulting with trusted allies on how to maintain party unity without appearing weak or detached.
In the meantime, Vice President Shettima has continued with his official duties, choosing not to publicly address the speculation. His aides insist he remains focused on supporting the President’s economic recovery plans and regional stabilization initiatives.
As the race to 2027 unofficially begins, insiders say the next few months will be critical in determining whether the APC can navigate these political landmines without tearing itself apart.