‘Leave me out of this’ — Dogara speaks on Tinubu’s 2027 running mate debate
Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the house of representatives, says decisions around power-sharing and religious balance in Nigeria should be guided by justice and fairness, rather than fear, pressure or political calculations.
Dogara spoke on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television, amid growing speculation that Kashim Shettima could be replaced as Bola Tinubu’s running mate ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Christian-born politician said inclusive governance remains central to building a country that works for all citizens, regardless of religious or regional differences.
Responding to claims that his name had surfaced as a possible running mate for the president’s re-election bid, Dogara distanced himself from the speculation.
“I would have sincerely pleaded with you to leave me out of this, but let me say something,” he said.
“Whatever we are doing shouldn’t be because we are afraid of anybody breathing down our necks; it should be because it is the right thing to do.
“We are talking about running an inclusive government, bringing everybody in this country together, so that we can build a nation that works for all of us.”
Dogara said debates around rotational presidency should also be broadened to include religious considerations, noting that representation should reflect faith communities, not just geography.
“So, if we are talking about rotational presidency, there is nothing stopping us from having that discussion as well, because you are not just talking about northern Christians but about the Christian faith as a whole,” he said.
“If you have a Muslim, whether he comes from the north or the south, let it be that he is representing the Muslim community.
“And if you have a Christian, wherever he comes from, he represents the Christian faith. That way, you achieve religious balance.”
He said any decision on such sensitive matters must be rooted in justice rather than political anxiety.
“But honestly, if we’re going to do anything along those lines, it shouldn’t be that we are scared, but because, as men of it, we believe that God requires of us to do justice.
“And justice demands that we should balance things. I think that should be our concern,” Dogara said.
On whether the All Progressives Congress (APC) could field a Christian running mate in 2027, Dogara confirmed that conversations were ongoing.
“It’s a discussion, and I am aware that such discussions are already taking place,” he said.
He added that the final decision rests with the president, noting that incumbents traditionally secure their party’s ticket.
“At the end of the day, whatever the president decides, nobody who is a serving president has ever lost the party primaries.
“So, we assume that the president will get the party’s ticket.
“Ultimately whatever decisions that he takes, I believe that it is up to him, but if we have overwhelming majority of our people making a case that these things should be balanced, as a democrat, I sincerely believe that he will listen to it.
“Particularly for us northerners like me and you, I’ve always insisted that anybody who divides the north along religious lines has actually conquered the north.”
