Shockwaves in APC: Youths Allegedly Assault National Chairman Ganduje During Tumultuous North-East Gathering [VIDEOS]

 

A storm of controversy descended on the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday as its National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was allegedly assaulted during a disorderly regional meeting of the party held in the North-East zone. Eyewitness reports claim that the former Kano State Governor was slapped by an unidentified group of angry youths as tempers flared and order collapsed in the high-tension gathering.

Held in a bid to address internal party wrangling, strategic coordination, and preparations for upcoming political activities, the meeting instead turned into a public spectacle of disarray, complete with shouting matches, broken protocol, and unexpected physical altercations. The North-East zonal stakeholders' meeting, which brought together APC chieftains from states including Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, and Gombe, had initially begun on a hopeful note before rapidly degenerating into an embarrassing display of discord.

Those present at the event described the atmosphere as “tense and combustible,” worsened by simmering grievances among youths and regional party loyalists who accused national leadership of neglect, marginalization, and political favoritism. Frustrations reportedly reached a boiling point when Ganduje rose to address the gathering, prompting a section of the crowd to begin chanting in protest.

“Everything was normal until the Chairman was about to speak. Suddenly, there were boos, then shouting, and before anyone could intervene, some youths broke through the crowd and rushed at him,” said a visibly shaken delegate from Bauchi who asked not to be named for security reasons. “There was a slap, maybe more, I can’t say how many people were involved. It was shocking.”

Security personnel eventually restored order, escorting the chairman out of the venue amidst tight security and growing unease among the attendees. Attempts to reach Ganduje’s media team for comment were unsuccessful, though a source close to the national headquarters in Abuja hinted at a forthcoming official statement.

Tensions have been rising for months within APC’s North-East structure, fueled by allegations of imposition of candidates, lack of youth inclusion, and dissatisfaction with how party structures are being run. Critics within the zone argue that the central leadership under Ganduje has not adequately addressed these concerns, creating a growing disconnect between the grassroots and the national body.

Political observers suggest the alleged attack is symbolic of deeper cracks within the ruling party’s internal framework. “The slap wasn’t just physical — it was political,” remarked Dr. Ibrahim Saidu, a political analyst and lecturer at the University of Maiduguri. “This is the result of layers of grievances that have not been addressed. APC needs a thorough reconciliation process, or this kind of incident may repeat itself in even more dramatic ways.”

Veteran party members and state governors in attendance have since called for calm, while condemning the breakdown of decorum and violence against any member of the party, especially its national leadership. The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, reportedly expressed dismay over the incident and urged for a probe into the security lapse and the instigators of the disruption.

Meanwhile, within political circles, speculations have already begun about the implications of this event for Ganduje’s leadership. While some party insiders argue that the national chairman still commands loyalty from a significant segment of the party, others believe his position has been severely weakened by this very public show of dissent.

“This is a huge embarrassment not only to Ganduje but to the entire APC,” noted a senior party official who attended the event. “We are the ruling party, yet we can't even organize an orderly zonal meeting. It speaks volumes about where we are headed if things are not urgently fixed.”

As of press time, no arrests had been confirmed, and police authorities in the area have yet to issue a statement regarding the security breach or the alleged assault. However, there are reports that a discreet investigation is underway, with party officials cooperating to identify the individuals involved.

With the general elections drawing nearer and party primaries set to commence in many states, this episode may serve as both a warning and a wake-up call to APC leadership. The path ahead is uncertain, but one thing remains clear — the unity of the party is under serious threat, and failure to confront its internal demons could cost it dearly.

Ganduje narrowly escaped angry crowds for endorsing Tinubu without Kashim in Gombe during the regional stakeholders meeting pic.twitter.com/xLjjBYMgSX

— Ubandoma Zayyan (@Zayyan_ubandoma) June 15, 2025

How Ganduje escorted out by the security operatives at the Northeast APC meeting
APC must fall... pic.twitter.com/mcuKoCvFVO

— Shingu. (@Mrmaximilan10) June 15, 2025