The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu, cautioning that he risks losing up to 80 percent of the northern Muslim vote if he accedes to calls to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The statement, released on Saturday in Abuja by the forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, underscores the strategic importance of retaining the Muslim-Muslim ticket that helped secure Tinubu’s presidential victory in 2023.
President Tinubu has come under intense pressure from various political groups and stakeholders advocating for a departure from the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which some believe may alienate Christian voters, particularly in the Middle Belt and northern states. Critics argue that the arrangement cost the APC key votes in northern states such as Nasarawa, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory during the last elections.
Responding to these concerns, the North-Central APC Forum dismissed claims that the Muslim-Muslim ticket marginalizes Christians or will reduce Tinubu’s electoral support in the Middle Belt. The forum pointed to prominent Christian leaders from the region, including APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, who hold significant positions in the current administration.
“The Muslim-Muslim ticket will not affect President Bola Tinubu’s chances in the Middle Belt, part of the North-Central zone,” said the statement. “We guarantee that Tinubu will secure 90 percent of the votes from this region due to the representation of Middle Belt Christians in his government and his achievements in office.”
The forum strongly advised Tinubu to “maintain the status quo” by retaining Shettima as his running mate, arguing that changing the vice-presidential candidate would be a needless risk that could jeopardize his reelection bid.
The statement further accused those pushing for a change in the ticket of not being genuine supporters of Tinubu, observing that many opposing voices come from communities that voted for Peter Obi of the Labour Party in 2023. It questioned the likelihood of these groups switching their allegiance to Tinubu in 2027, even if Shettima is replaced by a Christian candidate.
“The truth is, most of these people are not Tinubu’s supporters and do not want him to win reelection in 2027,” the forum said. “They are trying to mislead the President into dropping key allies who worked tirelessly for his victory in 2023. We believe the President will see through their mischief.”
The forum also highlighted concerning reports of political agents allegedly alienating northern Muslim communities by favoring northern Christian groups in the distribution of campaign resources. It warned that such practices could backfire, leading to a repeat of the 2023 scenario in which northern Christian voters favored the opposition candidate, undermining APC’s electoral prospects.
“Our sincere advice is for Mr. President to stick with the winning formula that brought him success,” the statement concluded. “Changing Kashim Shettima will not yield positive results and may cause the loss of a significant portion of northern Muslim votes. Even replacing him with another northern Muslim will not prevent these losses. The best approach is to maintain the status quo for a successful 2027 election.”
As Nigeria approaches the critical 2027 elections, the debate over the Muslim-Muslim ticket and inclusive representation continues to be a pivotal issue within the APC’s internal dynamics and broader electoral strategy. The North-Central APC Forum’s intervention reinforces the call for political unity and strategic continuity in the face of mounting pressures to alter the party’s leadership team.