APC GOVERNORS AT WAR: THE SILENT COUP AGAINST SHETTIMA’S 2027 COMEBACK
By IDNN Political Intelligence Unit
When shouts rang out inside the Gombe International Hotel’s conference hall and plastic bottles began flying at APC Vice Chairman Mustapha Salihu, the headlines wrote themselves: the party was in chaos. But the truth is far more calculated—and dangerous. What happened on that Sunday in June was not a spontaneous outburst. It was the first public spark of a cold war that has been simmering for months: a silent political coup aimed at removing Vice President Kashim Shettima from the 2027 equation.
This is not about one man being left out of a speech. It is about a larger war—between loyalty and ambition, between regional power blocs, and between the legacy of the Muslim-Muslim ticket and a desperate bid to reinvent it.
🧩 THE REAL FAULT LINE: SHETTIMA’S PERCEIVED WEAKNESS
Multiple high-level sources within the APC confirmed to IDNN that Shettima’s vice presidency has been under scrutiny since early 2024. Critics—many from within the North-East—see him as too quiet, too pliant, and politically underwhelming. They say he has failed to assert himself, failed to galvanize the party base, and failed to play the kind of power game needed to survive in Tinubu’s shadow.
But the issue runs deeper. Within the Northern bloc of the APC, there is rising discomfort over the sustainability of the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Some believe that to retain popular credibility, especially after the economic shocks of Tinubu’s reforms, the 2027 ticket must be recalibrated.
“They don’t just want Shettima gone. They want the narrative changed,” said one former governor from the region.
WHO’S BEHIND THE PUSH?
At the center of this silent rebellion are key actors:
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Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe — Quietly emerging as a preferred replacement.
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Yakubu Dogara — A Christian northern alternative being whispered about in church-based blocs.
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Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe — Playing the neutral card publicly, but reportedly leaning away from Shettima in private meetings.
The only strong defender of the VP in this equation? Borno’s Governor Babagana Zulum, whose loyalty to Shettima has held firm but is increasingly isolated.
A senior party insider told IDNN:
“The game plan was to use the Gombe summit to test the waters. If Salihu could exclude Shettima’s name without resistance, it would send a signal. They weren’t expecting a backlash that loud.”
🧱 A COORDINATED SILENCE
This plan wasn’t improvised. Ahead of the Gombe summit, at least three strategy meetings were held between the governors of Gombe, Yobe, and Borno. The agenda? Present a united front that endorses both Tinubu and Shettima. But the meetings ended in deadlock. While Zulum insisted on the full ticket, the others refused to commit.
So instead, Salihu went rogue—or so it was framed. When he mentioned Tinubu and left out Shettima, it was interpreted by delegates as a public betrayal. What followed—the protests, the booing, the throwing of objects—was spontaneous, but triggered by an orchestrated omission.
SHETTIMA’S SILENT STRUGGLE
For now, the Vice President has chosen silence. But his silence is not strength—it’s strategy. His camp is currently working behind the scenes to consolidate his hold over Northern political structures, especially in Borno and Bauchi.
Sources say Shettima is banking on Tinubu’s personal loyalty. But even that is uncertain. The President has been non-committal, and with the economy in flux and the 2027 stakes rising, even long-standing alliances could be restructured.
IMPLICATIONS FOR 2027
This internal war could destroy APC’s image of unity ahead of the 2027 elections. If the Vice President is axed, it may trigger backlash in the core Northern states. If he stays, the dissenting governors might sabotage the campaign.
Either way, the party must make a decision—and soon. A prolonged ambiguity could embolden the opposition, especially as former allies like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi begin exploratory talks.
“The bigger threat isn’t PDP,” said one analyst. “It’s APC’s internal implosion.”