A political support group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu Next Level, has accused Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, of being loyal to Vice-President Kashim Shettima rather than President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its president, Ango Zubair, the group said Zulum was behind the disruption that trailed the APC North-East zonal meeting over the weekend

The group described Zulum’s role in the meeting as a “rude embarrassment” to the president and party members across the country.

Part of the statement read: “We express displeasure at the actions of Governor Babagana Zulum in insisting that the zonal endorsement accorded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu be extended to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

“We find such a stance as being rude and orchestrated to embarrass the President and every member of the APC in Nigeria and abroad.”

The group alleged that Zulum’s actions signalled a deeper loyalty to Shettima rather than to Tinubu, saying it was a source of concern within the party.

“What Governor Zulum has expressed by his action and his other supporters is that their loyalty is not to the President, but to Shettima. That is where we have a major disagreement with them,” it added.

The group also said President Tinubu had the constitutional power to remove the vice president but had chosen not to.

“If the President so wishes, he could as well orchestrate an impeachment of Vice-President Shettima. But President Tinubu, out of the magnanimity of his heart, has not traveled this route in kicking Shettima out,” the group stated.

Tinubu Next Level maintained that endorsing a presidential candidate for the 2027 elections is the prerogative of the APC zonal structure.