By Ismaeel Aleem
The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu against replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, cautioning that such a move could cost him up to 80% of northern Muslim votes.
In a statement released by the Forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, in Abuja on Saturday, it comes amid growing pressure from various groups urging Tinubu to reconsider the Muslim-Muslim ticket that secured his victory in 2023.
The Forum’s warning follows calls from the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF), led by Dominic Alancha, which argued that the Muslim-Muslim ticket alienated Christian voters in the North, costing the APC states like Nasarawa, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory in 2023. Alancha warned that repeating the ticket could further weaken Tinubu’s support in the Middle Belt, a region with significant Christian influence. However, the North-Central APC Forum dismissed these claims, asserting that the ticket was a strategic electoral choice, not an act of marginalization against Christians.
APC forum speaks further
Zazzaga emphasized that prominent Middle Belt Christians, such as APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, hold key positions in the administration, ensuring adequate representation. “The Muslim-Muslim ticket will not affect Tinubu’s chances in the Middle Belt. We can guarantee 90% of North-Central votes due to his achievements and Christian representation,” Zazzaga stated.
The Forum accused those advocating for Shettima’s removal of being opposition supporters, noting that many of their communities voted for Labour Party’s Peter Obi in 2023. “If Obi runs again in 2027, there’s no guarantee they’ll vote for Tinubu, even with a Christian running mate,” Zazzaga argued, labeling the calls as “mischief” aimed at undermining Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The APC Forum urged Tinubu to maintain the “winning formula” of the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, warning that changing it could alienate northern Muslim voters without gaining new support. As the 2027 election debate intensifies, Tinubu faces a delicate balancing act between religious inclusivity and political strategy.
