The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has urged President Bola Tinubu to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the Muslim-Muslim ticket will not hurt the party’s chances.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the Forum dismissed calls for Tinubu to alter the ticket, arguing that the pairing was successful in 2023 and remains politically strategic.
“The Muslim-Muslim ticket will not affect President Bola Tinubu’s chances in the Middle Belt, which is part of the North-Central, and this is because of the key positions held by Middle Belt Christians in the APC government,” Zazzaga said.
He further claimed that the ruling party enjoys overwhelming support in the region, declaring, “We can guarantee that Tinubu will get 90 percent of the votes from the North-Central. There is no need to take the needless risk of changing a winning team.”
The Forum also questioned the reasoning of critics pushing for a change. “If Peter Obi is to come out again in 2027, as expected, what is the guarantee that they will vote for Tinubu even if he drops Shettima for a Christian? Does it mean these people will now leave Obi and vote for Tinubu?” the group asked.
The Forum maintained that “keeping the same team will further strengthen the chances of the APC in 2027.”
Its position, however, contrasts with that of the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum led by Dominic Alancha. Speaking recently on Channels Television, Alancha argued that the Muslim-Muslim ticket cost the APC several northern states in the 2023 polls including Nasarawa, Plateau, and the FCTand warned that repeating the ticket in 2027 could further weaken the party’s grip.
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