The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, narrowly escaped physical assault on Sunday as tempers flared during the party’s North-East stakeholders meeting held in Gombe State.

According to POLITICS NIGERIA, the heated confrontation erupted after the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, without acknowledging Vice President Kashim Shettima, who hails from the region.

Salihu’s omission infuriated delegates at the event, leading to a wave of verbal attacks and threats of physical violence. Security personnel had to swiftly intervene and escort Salihu out of the venue to prevent escalation.

Tensions heightened further when Dr. Ganduje, during his own 10-minute address, similarly failed to mention Vice President Shettima. The omission sparked outrage among party members and stakeholders, many of whom saw it as a deliberate slight against the North-East’s most prominent political figure.

As anger boiled over, chants and jeers rang out, and Ganduje was also forcibly evacuated from the hall under tight security.

Multiple eyewitnesses confirmed that the scene devolved into chaos, with some party members demanding explanations and accusing the national leadership of attempting to sideline Shettima in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.

This incident follows growing tensions in the region after recent reports that President Tinubu was being positioned as the sole APC candidate for 2027, a move that has not sat well with some loyalists of Shettima, especially from Borno State.

Reacting to the developments, analysts have warned that the APC risks internal crisis if it continues to ignore the sensitivities of its regional power blocs.

 “This is not just a disagreement. It’s the beginning of open rebellion from the North-East bloc,” one party source said