Northern group to Tinubu: Don’t repeat Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027

The Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to shelve any plans of fielding another Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2027 general election.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the group, led by Dr. Dominic Alancha, said its position was informed by the need for national unity, electoral competitiveness, and justice for Nigeria’s religious and ethnic diversity.

NENF warned that a repeat of the 2023 presidential ticket, which saw President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, both Muslims, on the ballot, could rekindle religious tensions and alienate millions of Christians, particularly in the Middle Belt and northern minority regions.

The forum, which claims to represent 127 ethnic nationalities in the North, said a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027 could cost the All Progressives Congress (APC) key battlegrounds such as Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi, and parts of Southern Kaduna, Borno, Gombe, and Bauchi, areas where Christian voters make up the majority.

They noted that although Shettima is competent, his presence on the ticket may not be enough to address the grievances of exclusion.

They advised President Tinubu to consider a Northern Christian running mate from Plateau, Taraba, or Bauchi to strengthen the APC’s national appeal.

Citing the possibility of a joint opposition ticket involving Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, the group warned that ignoring the religious balance could erode APC’s support base.

However, they pledged to mobilise their claimed 20-million-strong network in support of Tinubu’s re-election bid if he chooses a credible and competent Christian from the North as running mate.

“Nigeria stands at a precipice. Hunger, insecurity, and sectarian violence demand leadership that reflects our diversity,” the group said.