The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has condemned Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, over his alleged role in the disruption of the party’s North-East stakeholders meeting held in Gombe on Sunday.
The group is demanding an immediate apology from the governor, accusing him of inciting a protest that targeted the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
The incident reportedly erupted after Ganduje and the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term, without mention of Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The endorsement reportedly triggered resistance from Zulum and his supporters, leading to a protest that forced security operatives to evacuate Ganduje and Salihu from the venue.
In a statement on Monday signed by its chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the North-Central APC Forum described Zulum’s conduct as unacceptable and an attack on the authority of the party’s national leadership.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the alleged mobilisation of thugs by Governor Babagana Zulum against the National Chairman of our great party. Ganduje is innocent and was only performing his duty as National Chairman,” the statement said.
The Forum argued that the selection of a Vice President is solely the prerogative of the President, and as such, Ganduje had no obligation to consult or endorse any particular individual for that role.
“It is the constitutional right of the President to choose his running mate. The National Chairman’s duty is to maintain neutrality and promote unity within the party, which he has done,” the Forum stated.
The group expressed disappointment that Zulum, a senior party member, would resort to protest over an endorsement that falls squarely within the President’s discretion.
It added that the governor’s behaviour was not only unbecoming but also risks undermining the party’s cohesion ahead of the 2027 general election.
The statement further claimed that the North-East, despite producing the current Vice President, did not deliver the expected votes for the APC in the 2023 presidential election and should therefore not feel entitled to automatic political concessions.
“Records from the 2023 election show that the North-East underperformed. The opposition secured more votes in that region, while the North-Central delivered significantly for the APC, ranking third behind the South-West and North-West in terms of total votes for President Tinubu,” the Forum said.
According to the figures provided, Tinubu garnered 2,542,979 votes in the South-West, 2,652,235 in the North-West, and 1,760,993 in the North-Central.
In contrast, the North-East gave Atiku Abubakar 1,741,846 votes, while Tinubu received 933,176. In Borno State, Tinubu polled 252,282 votes, narrowly beating the PDP’s 190,921 votes.
The Forum argued that political reward should align with electoral performance, stressing that zones which delivered higher votes for the party deserve greater consideration in future decisions.
The statement also addressed the controversy around Ganduje’s omission of Shettima’s name during the Gombe endorsement, asserting that the 2023 Tinubu-Shettima ticket was a product of strategic political calculation, not an entitlement.
“The Muslim-Muslim ticket was a tactical decision aimed at winning the 2023 election. Circumstances may change in 2027, and new political considerations could guide the President’s choice of a running mate. This must be respected by all party members,” the Forum said.
The group emphasized that decisions about future tickets will be based on political realities, voter strength, and the strategic direction of the party, not personal ambitions or regional sentiments.
Reassuring party members of continued unity, the Forum dismissed fears that the Gombe disruption signaled a brewing crisis within the APC, stressing, “What happened in Gombe was an isolated incident and does not reflect the overall state of our party.
“The APC remains strong, focused, and united under the leadership of President Tinubu and National Chairman Ganduje”.
The Forum reiterated its commitment to delivering six million votes for the APC in the North-Central zone in the 2027 election.
It also reaffirmed its support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid and passed a fresh vote of confidence in Ganduje’s leadership of the party.
“With President Tinubu and Dr. Ganduje steering the ship, the APC is in capable hands. We urge all members to avoid actions that may cause internal rifts or distract from the administration’s focus on governance and national development,” the Forum noted.
