Says President Risks Losing 80% of Northern Muslim Votes if He Alters Muslim-Muslim Ticket
The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against bowing to pressure to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Forum warned that altering the Muslim-Muslim ticket could cost the President as much as 80 percent of northern Muslim votes.
The warning was issued in Abuja on Saturday through a statement signed by the Forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 elections.
President Tinubu has faced growing calls from political groups and stakeholders to reconsider the Muslim-Muslim ticket that delivered his 2023 victory, with critics insisting that it may backfire in 2027. The Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum recently argued on national television that the ticket cost Tinubu crucial votes in states such as Nasarawa, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory, and urged the President to adopt a more balanced approach by choosing a Christian running mate.
But countering this position, the North-Central APC Forum insisted that the Muslim-Muslim ticket was a “winning strategy” and does not amount to marginalization of Christians or other faiths. The Forum pointed to key government figures such as APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, both Christians from the Middle Belt, as evidence that Tinubu’s administration is inclusive.
“The Muslim-Muslim ticket will not affect President Tinubu’s chances in the Middle Belt. With the achievements of his government and the prominence of Middle Belt Christians in his administration, we can guarantee 90 percent of the North-Central vote,” the Forum declared.
Zazzaga emphasized that those demanding Shettima’s replacement were largely not Tinubu’s supporters in 2023, noting that many of their communities voted massively for Labour Party’s Peter Obi. According to the Forum, even if Tinubu concedes and fields a Christian running mate, these groups are unlikely to support him in 2027.
The Forum also accused some political actors close to the President of alienating northern Muslim communities while focusing resources on northern Christians. It warned that such a strategy was “counterproductive” and could create a dangerous scenario where Tinubu loses support from both Christians and Muslims if opposition candidates like Peter Obi re-emerge.
“Those calling for Shettima’s removal are up to mischief. They don’t mean well for the President or the APC. Dropping Shettima will only weaken Tinubu’s support base in the North,” the statement read.
Reiterating its stance, the Forum advised Tinubu to maintain the “status quo” that secured his 2023 victory.
“President Tinubu will lose 80 percent of northern Muslim votes if he changes Vice President Kashim Shettima. Even if he replaces him with another Muslim, the damage will be done. The best option is to keep the winning team intact for 2027,” the Forum stressed.
