Mounting Pressure on APC to Rethink 2027 Ticket
The Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF) is calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to reconsider the Muslim-Muslim ticket for the upcoming 2027 elections. NENF is urging the party to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima to avoid deepening divides in a nation facing hunger, insecurity, and sectarian violence.
Dr. Dominic Alancha, the president of NENF, emphasized the risks of repeating the 2023 scenario when the Muslim-Muslim ticket during those elections exacerbated religious tensions, alienated Christians, and sparked fears of exclusion.
Alancha highlighted that over 80 percent of Northern Christians rejected the APC in 2023, leading to significant losses for the party in states like Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, and the FCT. He warned that reusing this strategy could further erode support in the North.
According to Alancha, continuing with a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027 could result in severe consequences, with potential losses in key areas like the Middle Belt, Southern Kaduna, and parts of Bauchi, Borno, and Gombe.
The NENF is advocating for Tinubu to select a Northern Christian running mate from regions like Plateau, Bauchi, or Taraba to broaden the APC’s appeal while maintaining merit and fostering unity in the country.
Alancha stressed the importance of inclusivity in stabilizing democracy, citing the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leader Rev Yakubu Pam’s views on the matter.
He argued that competence and inclusivity can go hand in hand, emphasizing the need for a Northern Christian vice president to address past exclusions and uphold moral and electoral imperatives.
NENF, backed by 127 ethnic associations across the North, is determined to rally its 20-million-strong membership until justice and fairness prevail.
“President Tinubu, the opportunity is yours to heal and unite Nigeria,” Alancha concluded.
