The North-Central wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the recent disruption of a party stakeholders' meeting in Gombe State, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was officially endorsed for a second term in 2027.

Chairman of the Forum, Saleh Zazzaga, described the incident — which reportedly erupted due to the omission of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s name during the endorsement — as "regrettable" and unnecessary. He emphasized that internal party grievances should be addressed through proper channels, not through public outbursts or intimidation.

“Disagreements are normal in politics,” the Forum noted, “but using thuggery or causing chaos goes against the values of discipline and internal democracy that our party upholds.”

A major point of concern was the treatment of the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who had to be escorted from the venue under tight security. The Forum stressed that Ganduje was simply fulfilling his duties and should not have been targeted.

“Selecting a Vice Presidential candidate is solely the President’s call. Dr. Ganduje has always respected party processes and has never overstepped his role,” the Forum explained.

The North Central APC Forum also urged Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, to investigate the alleged involvement of non-state actors in the protest, warning that such actions could damage the party’s reputation for unity and peaceful resolution of disagreements.

Backing its stance with election statistics, the Forum pointed out that the North-East delivered fewer votes for APC during the 2023 general elections compared to the North-Central region. While the APC earned about 933,000 votes in the North-East, it secured over 1.76 million votes in the North-Central.

“If any region should feel neglected, it’s the North-Central,” the Forum argued. “We’ve been loyal and deserve fair recognition.”

The Forum made it clear that it wasn't promoting regional rivalry but was instead calling for fairness and strategic planning based on actual electoral performance. It also emphasized that the 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket was a strategy for that time and doesn’t necessarily dictate the 2027 game plan.

“President Tinubu is an experienced leader. We trust he’ll make the best decision when the time comes,” they stated.

Despite the uproar in Gombe, the Forum dismissed talks of a party crisis. It called the incident isolated and praised the overall unity and direction of the APC under President Tinubu and Dr. Ganduje.

“The APC remains strong and focused. Now is not the time for division, but for discipline, strategy, and commitment to progress.”

Looking ahead to 2027, the Forum pledged to mobilize at least six million votes for President Tinubu from the North-Central zone alone and urged members to prioritize party unity over personal ambition.

“Let’s build bridges, not burn them,” the Forum concluded. “Together, we can strengthen the APC and move Nigeria forward.”