GOMBE / KANO – The North-East Coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups has recommended former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, as running mate to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, igniting internal debate within the party’s ranks.
The coalition, speaking after a two-day meeting in Gombe, cited national unity and Dogara’s track record of inclusive leadership as reasons for the endorsement. Coalition Chairman, Sha’abdini Bello, said the group believes Dogara, a Christian from Bauchi State, offers a balanced and unifying presence in Nigeria’s diverse political landscape.
“His leadership in the 8th Assembly was marked by appointments across every state in the North-East and the six geopolitical zones. He is a trusted and tested figure for the region and the nation,” Bello stated while reading the group’s communiqué.
The coalition reaffirmed its loyalty to President Tinubu and APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and urged members to uphold party unity during what it described as a time of “Renewed Hope and National Rebirth.”
The development comes on the heels of a chaotic North-East APC zonal meeting, where Ganduje and his team were accused of sidelining Vice President Kashim Shettima while endorsing Tinubu for a second term. The move has raised speculations about internal power shifts ahead of 2027.
However, the Kano State chapter of the APC has dismissed any notion that Ganduje is attempting to unseat Shettima. In a statement on Monday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Ahmed Aruwa, said such claims are baseless and likely engineered by political opponents.
“As far as I know, the APC chairman has never spoken about wanting Shettima’s seat. These rumours are distractions, often pushed by supporters of Rabiu Kwankwaso who are looking for cracks in our party,” Aruwa said.
He stressed that the choice of a vice president lies solely with the president, adding that “there’s still time before such decisions are made.”
Meanwhile, political analyst Prof. Kamilu Fagge of Bayero University, Kano, said the unfolding drama points to deeper tensions within the APC that could prove costly in the run-up to 2027. “The opposition is watching, and if this isn’t carefully managed, it may lead to serious consequences for the party,” he warned.
The coalition also used the occasion to appeal to President Tinubu to accelerate the completion of the Akwanga-Gombe Road project, describing it as vital to regional connectivity and economic growth in the North-East.
