Groups urge Tinubu to drop Shettima, pick northern christian ahead of 2027
The Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF) has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima with a Northern Christian running mate in the 2027 elections.
They said this will prioritise national unity.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dominic Alancha, NENF leader, said inclusivity was crucial to bridging Nigeria’s religious and ethnic divisions.
“The 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket ignited unprecedented religious tensions, alienating millions of Christians and fueling fears of Islamization.
“Grassroots realities show that over 80% of Northern Christians rejected APC in 2023, costing the party critical states,” the forum noted.
The group warned that repeating the same arrangement could cost the All Progressives Congress (APC) key battleground states in the Middle Belt — including Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, and the FCT.
It added that the party also risked losing parts of Southern Kaduna, Southern Borno, Gombe, and Bauchi.
It further argued that Tinubu secured only 36% of Northern votes in 2023 despite the region’s Muslim majority.
It added that Labour Party candidate Peter Obi’s performance in Christian-majority areas showed the political weight of inclusion.
“Nigeria’s founding fathers enshrined religious balance to prevent polarisation. Repeating the Muslim-Muslim ticket betrays our national covenant.
“Vice President Shettima, though capable, cannot heal the wounds of exclusion.
“Selecting a Northern Christian from Plateau, Bauchi, or Taraba would broaden APC’s appeal without compromising merit,” NENF said.
The forum urged Tinubu to publicly commit to a balanced ticket, restore national trust, and secure wider support across the Middle Belt.
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