Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF) on Tuesday urged President Bola Tinubu to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The group also called on him to avoid repeating a Muslim-Muslim ticket, stressing that inclusivity is essential for national unity.
In a statement, the group’s leader, Dominic Alancha, emphasised that national cohesion could only be achieved through balanced representation.
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“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 statement read.
The NENF highlighted that the 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket had heightened religious tension, alienated millions of Christians, and fueled fears of Islamisation.
“A repeat of the Muslim-Muslim ticket could see the APC lose Middle Belt states, where northern Christians command about 90 per cent of the votes.
“Even Muslim groups such as the Concerned Northern Muslim Ummah have warned that retaining the ticket might backfire,” Alancha added.
The group also noted that Tinubu secured only 36 per cent of the northern votes despite the region’s Muslim majority, pointing to the ticket’s weakness.
While acknowledging Shettima’s competence, NENF insisted that he cannot address grievances caused by the 2023 ticket.
Alancha urged the President to consider a northern Christian from Plateau, Bauchi, or Taraba as running mate in 2027.
“We urge the President to make a public commitment to renounce the Muslim-Muslim ticket and restore national trust.
“Adopting a northern Christian vice president will broaden APC’s appeal, secure the North-Central and much of the Middle Belt, and raise the party’s vote share by up to 45 per cent in 2027,” the statement concluded.
