The Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to avoid repeating the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2027 presidential election, warning that such a move could deepen divisions and cost the All Progressives Congress (APC) vital electoral ground.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the group’s leader, Dominic Alancha, stressed that inclusivity and balanced representation remain essential for Nigeria’s unity and democratic stability.
Alancha noted that while Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima secured victory on the APC platform in 2023 despite widespread criticism, the pairing alienated millions of Christians, particularly in the North-Central and Middle Belt regions.
“The Muslim-Muslim ticket heightened religious tension and eroded trust among Christian communities. For the sake of national cohesion and electoral viability, the APC must adopt a more inclusive approach in 2027,” the forum stated.
The NENF warned that a repeat of the ticket could cost the APC key battleground states including Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside parts of Southern Kaduna, Bauchi, and Borno.
According to the group, Tinubu’s ticket in 2023 managed only 36 per cent of votes in the North despite its Muslim majority, while over 80 per cent of northern Christians rejected the APC. It further cited the defection of several Christian leaders and the strong performance of opposition candidate Peter Obi, particularly in Christian-dominated areas, as proof that exclusionary politics weakens the ruling party.
While acknowledging Vice President Shettima’s competence, the forum insisted that his candidacy cannot resolve the grievances of Christians who felt marginalised by the 2023 arrangement.
The NENF therefore urged President Tinubu to consider a northern Christian running mate from Plateau, Taraba, or Bauchi in 2027 to broaden the APC’s appeal.
“Renouncing the Muslim-Muslim ticket would not only rebuild national trust but could increase APC’s vote share by up to 45 per cent in the next election,” the forum argued, adding that adopting religious balance was consistent with the inclusive model of past administrations led by Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari.
The group concluded with a call for the President to make a public commitment to religious inclusivity, describing it as the only path to strengthening democracy and preventing national polarisation.
