Tension erupted in Maiduguri on Monday after the All Progressives Congress (APC) excluded Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s photograph from a banner at the North-East Zonal Public Hearing on proposed amendments to the party’s constitution.
The omission sparked immediate backlash from party stakeholders and delegates. Abdulkarim Lawan, Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, described the exclusion as a “disrespectful slight” against Shettima, a prominent APC leader from the North-East.
The banner displayed images of President Bola Tinubu, five North-East governors, and the party’s National Legal Adviser, but Shettima’s photo was missing. Observers recalled a similar incident in Gombe State last year, which led to disruptions and an abrupt end to the event.
Addressing attendees, Lawan expressed shock over the omission, warning that such actions could create unnecessary tension within the party. His remarks were met with applause from delegates, reflecting widespread disapproval of the oversight.
