2027: Fresh Tension as APC Excludes Shettima’s Photo in Major Banner

Outrage has emerged in Maiduguri following the exclusion of Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s photograph from a banner used at the North-East Zonal Public Hearing regarding amendments to the All Progressives Congress (APC) constitution, according to Vanguard.

This omission has prompted strong reactions from party stakeholders and delegates, leading Abdulkarim Lawan, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, to publicly express his discontent, labeling it a disrespectful slight against the Vice-President.

The banner for the event prominently featured images of President Bola Tinubu, five APC governors from the North-East zone, and the party’s National Legal Adviser, but notably left out Shettima’s picture.

This exclusion has raised questions given Shettima’s prominent role as the country’s Vice-President and a key APC leader from the region.

This incident is seen as part of a broader trend, with observers recalling a similar omission of Shettima’s image at an APC event in Gombe State last year, which escalated tensions and resulted in the abrupt conclusion of the meeting.

Addressing the gathering, Lawan, the longest-serving Speaker in Nigeria’s history, expressed shock over the omission, warning that such actions could fuel unnecessary tension within the party.“Why would the Vice-President’s picture not be included in the banner?

This was what created the fracas in Gombe, and it is repeating itself here in Borno. I do not know the motive of the organisers, but it is not right,” he said.

He added, “How can the organisers exclude the picture of a sitting Vice-President, who is from Borno and the North-East zone?”

Lawan’s remarks were met with thunderous applause from the audience, reflecting widespread disapproval of the omission among party members present at the event.