The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, has protested the exclusion of Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s photograph from a banner displayed at an All Progressives Congress (APC) event in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The banner, which portrayed key party leaders, carried images of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, five APC governors from the North East and the party’s National Legal Adviser, but conspicuously omitted that of the Vice-President.
Speaking at the venue on Monday, Lawan described the omission as unfair and unacceptable, especially as the event was taking place in Shettima’s hometown.
He warned that such actions could fuel unnecessary tension within the party.
Lawan recalled that a similar omission had sparked a fracas that disrupted an APC meeting in Gombe State last year.
“This is what created the fracas in Gombe, and it’s repeating itself here in Borno. I don’t know the motive of the organisers but it’s not right,” he said.
He questioned the rationale behind the decision, adding, “How can the organisers exclude the picture of a sitting vice president, who is from Borno and the North East zone?”
His remarks were echoed by members of the audience, who responded with loud applause in support of his protest.
Governors and key stakeholders of the APC are currently in Maiduguri for the North East zonal public hearing on the proposed amendment of the party’s constitution
