Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly (BOSHA), Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan
Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly (BOSHA), Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, has strongly criticised organisers of the North-East Zonal Public Hearing on the proposed amendment to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Constitution for excluding the photograph of Vice President Kashim Shettima from official posters and billboards for the event.
The APC North-East Zone held its Party Constitutional Review Meeting on Monday at the Borno State Hotel Conference Hall in Maiduguri.
Speaking at the venue, Lawan said he observed “with dismay” that the printed posters and billboards for the programme did not carry the image of Vice President Shettima, who hails from the North-East and occupies a top position at both the party and national government levels.
He lamented that it was “imaginary” that recent posters and billboards, including those displayed on vehicles, were being circulated without the Vice President’s photograph.
According to him, the omission was a “bad omen” and a “very conflicting attitude” that could endanger the party and alienate supporters of both the Vice President and the APC.
Despite his concerns, the Speaker urged party members and supporters to turn out en masse to participate in the ongoing nationwide e-registration exercise, stressing that it was essential for them to be able to vote in the forthcoming party congress.
Earlier, the Chairman of the 2026 APC North-East Zone Constitutional Review Meeting and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, called on party members to fully and actively participate in the ongoing nationwide registration exercise.
He noted that it was their civic duty to exercise their franchise by voting for candidates of their choice during the February 2026 APC Congress, which will be held nationwide to elect party leaders from the ward level to the national level.
Represented by the Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Idi Barde, Buni assured party stakeholders of fairness, justice and transparency in the constitutional review process.
He pledged equal opportunity for all state chapters to make submissions and expressed appreciation to party stakeholders for their support, steadfastness and resilience.
In his address, Governor Babagana Umar Zulum of Borno State, represented by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur, tasked state government officials with mobilising residents to participate in the ongoing APC e-registration exercise across the state.
He underscored the importance of the registration exercise and the upcoming party congress, pointing out that, given the calibre of North-East indigenes currently serving at the national level, the region — particularly Borno State — must prove beyond reasonable doubt that it remains firmly for the APC.
“Today, indeed, marks another important milestone in the annals of our party’s history, as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), united as one progressive family, converges here in Borno State for the North-East Zonal Public Hearing on the proposed amendment to our Party’s Constitution,” Zulum said.
“This historic gathering underscores our collective commitment to reform, unity and democratic growth. It is strategically pertinent to note that the proposed amendments are timely and strategic. They are aimed at strengthening our internal democracy, improving transparency and enhancing grassroots mobilisation across all levels of the party.
“Central to these reforms are key areas such as decentralisation of power, improvement of candidate selection processes and increased representation for women and youth, who remain the driving force and future of our party.
“As we deliberate, I respectfully urge this distinguished assembly to give thoughtful consideration to the following critical issues: Ensuring that State and Local Government party chapters enjoy greater autonomy in decision-making.
“Making candidate selection processes transparent, inclusive and credible;
Mandating regular local elections, consultations and engagements to sustain party vitality at the grassroots.
“These reforms, when fully embraced, will make our party more responsive, more inclusive and more effective in delivering good governance to Nigerians. A stronger APC will undoubtedly translate into a stronger democracy and a brighter future for our nation.
“We remain deeply appreciative of Mr President for his purposeful leadership and pragmatic policy initiatives, which are deliberately geared towards fulfilling the yearnings and aspirations of the ruling APC and delivering tangible dividends of democracy to the populace.
“These people-centred policies and the aspirations of the APC are steadily being translated into real hope and progress for the citizenry.
“I therefore wish to sincerely appreciate the national and regional leadership of our great party under the able chairmanship of Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the leadership of the APC in Borno State under the chairmanship of Honourable Bello Ayuba, as well as the organisers of this Public Hearing, for bringing us together under one roof for this important exercise in Maiduguri, Borno State.
“Party leaders at all levels must rise to the occasion by championing the mobilisation drive for the ongoing membership e-registration exercise, which will further deepen our party’s reach and unity,” Zulum said.
