Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), United States of America (USA) chapter, Professor Tai Balofin, said Vice President Kashim Shettima’s exclusion from the endorsement speeches at the recent North-East summit of the party was not a snub but a reflection of the focus on the Bola Tinubu presidency.
At the APC North-East stakeholders’ meeting held in Gombe State on Sunday, Mustapha Salihu, the national vice chairman for the zone, and Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman, endorsed President Tinubu without mentioning Vice-President Shettima, sparking discussions about the party’s leadership dynamics.
Reacting to this, Professor Balofin noted that the endorsements reflected strategic focus rather than internal discord.
According to him, the APC’s leadership structure revolves around consolidating power for the 2027 elections, with Tinubu as the central figure.
“The Gombe meeting, attended by key party figures,ministers, governors, and lawmakers, was a platform to rally support for Tinubu’s potential second term. Salihu and Ganduje’s endorsements were deliberately focused on the presidential candidacy, as the vice-presidential role is a secondary decision made by the presidential candidate during primaries, he said.
Balofin noted that Tinubu, a seasoned political strategist, values Shettima’s role in maintaining regional balance, particularly in the North-East, which is crucial for the APC’s electoral success.
“However, Shettima’s exclusion from the endorsement speeches was not a snub but a reflection of the meeting’s focus on the presidency.
“The reported outrage, with delegates reacting strongly and security intervening, highlights the passionate undercurrents within the APC. These dynamics reveal the challenges of managing a diverse coalition where regional loyalties and individual ambitions intersect.
The North-East, a key APC stronghold, expects representation, and Shettima’s prominence as vice president makes his omission sensitive,” he stated.
Balofin maintained that the reaction was overblown, possibly stirred by political rivals to expose fault lines, saying the APC’s leadership, under Ganduje, remains focused on unifying the party behind Tinubu, with Shettima’s role secure but not central to the presidential endorsement.
“The incident underscores broader APC leadership dynamics: a delicate balance of regional representation, loyalty to the party’s national agenda, and strategic timing. Tinubu’s leadership is the anchor, with decisions like the vice-presidential candidacy reserved for later to maximise flexibility and alliances.
“The party’s ability to navigate these tensions will determine its cohesion heading into 2027.
In conclusion, the APC’s leadership dynamics are driven by a clear hierarchy prioritising Tinubu’s presidency. The Gombe controversy is a misinterpretation of standard political strategy, not a fracture.
“The party remains united, with Shettima’s role valued but distinct from the presidential focus. The APC’s strength lies in rallying behind Tinubu, keeping 2027 in sight,” Balofin asserted.
