The Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF) has cautioned President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against fielding another Muslim–Muslim presidential ticket in 2027, warning that such a move could deepen division and erode the party’s electoral chances.
In a statement issued Tuesday and signed by its leader, Dominic Alancha, the forum stressed that inclusivity and religious balance are essential for Nigeria’s stability, unity, and democratic viability.
“The Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum, representing the marginalised ethnic nationalities of Northern Nigeria, issues a clarion call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC to abandon plans for a Muslim–Muslim presidential ticket in 2027. Our demand is rooted in the urgent need for national cohesion, electoral viability, and justice for Nigeria’s diverse religious and ethnic communities,” the group said.
The forum recalled that Tinubu, as APC’s candidate in 2023, paired with former Borno State governor Kashim Shettima despite widespread criticism, a decision that sparked religious tension and alienated millions of northern Christians. According to the group, over 80 percent of Christians in the North rejected APC at the polls, leading to the party’s defeat in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory, while several Christian politicians defected in protest.
It warned that repeating the same strategy in 2027 could cost the APC heavily in Middle Belt states, where Christians make up nearly 90 percent of the electorate. “A repeat of the Muslim–Muslim ticket could see the APC lose Middle Belt states, while a possible Obi–Atiku alliance could dismantle the party’s support base if Tinubu ignores this warning,” the group added.
While acknowledging Vice President Shettima’s competence, the forum argued that he cannot undo the grievances created by the 2023 pairing. Instead, it urged President Tinubu to publicly renounce the Muslim–Muslim ticket and adopt a northern Christian running mate, preferably from Plateau, Taraba, or Bauchi State.
According to the group, such a move would restore national trust, secure the North-Central and much of the Middle Belt, and boost the APC’s vote share by up to 45 percent in 2027. It also said the approach would align with the inclusive models of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, who ensured religious balance on their presidential tickets.