2027: APC Forum Warns Tinubu He Risks Losing 80% of Northern Muslim Votes If Shettima Is Replaced

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has strongly cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against bowing to increasing pressure to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a public statement delivered in Abuja by its chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the Forum emphasized that President Tinubu would stand the risk of losing nearly 80 percent of northern Muslim votes if he yields to demands to abandon the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which secured him victory in the 2023 elections.

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Growing Pressure on Tinubu to Drop Shettima

As the 2027 elections draw closer, President Tinubu is facing mounting pressure from several groups and political stakeholders calling on him to consider a change in his running mate. Many of these voices argue that the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which worked in 2023, may no longer resonate with Nigerians in 2027.

On Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum, led by Dominic Alancha, openly warned against repeating the same ticket. Alancha highlighted that the APC lost states like Nasarawa, Plateau, and even the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2023 due to dissatisfaction with the Muslim-Muslim strategy. He cautioned that repeating this approach could further erode APC’s popularity, especially in the Middle Belt region.

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North-Central APC Forum’s Rebuttal

However, countering Alancha’s position, the North-Central APC Forum firmly maintained that the Muslim-Muslim ticket was never about religious marginalization but rather an electoral strategy.

The Forum stressed that Christians in the Middle Belt remain significantly represented in Tinubu’s government with notable figures like:

• Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda (APC National Chairman)
• George Akume (Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF)

According to the Forum, these appointments demonstrate balance and inclusivity, proving that Christians are not sidelined. The Forum further expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure over 90 percent of votes in the North-Central region, pointing out that his performance and achievements in office will speak louder than religious narratives.

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Forum Urges Tinubu to Maintain “Winning Team”

The statement emphasized that dropping Shettima would amount to a “needless risk” and could jeopardize APC’s chances of victory in 2027.

“Those who opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023 largely supported Peter Obi of the Labour Party. If Obi runs again in 2027, what guarantee exists that they will suddenly abandon him and vote for Tinubu even if Shettima is replaced with a Christian candidate?” the Forum queried.

The Forum accused those pushing against Shettima of mischief-making, arguing that their real aim is to weaken Tinubu’s re-election chances.

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Allegations of Division Within Tinubu’s Support Base

Additionally, the Forum alleged that certain individuals claiming to support Tinubu’s re-election are alienating northern Muslim communities while focusing attention on Christians in the region.

They warned that this discriminatory strategy could backfire:

• If Christian voters remain loyal to Peter Obi (as in 2023), and
• If Muslim communities feel abandoned and withdraw support,

then President Tinubu risks losing both blocs of votes in 2027.

The Forum urged the President to see through what they called a “calculated attempt at sabotage.”

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Final Warning from the Forum

In its closing remarks, the Forum strongly advised Tinubu to “stick with what worked in 2023”.

“Changing Vice President Kashim Shettima will bring no electoral benefits. On the contrary, it could cost President Tinubu 80 percent of northern Muslim votes. Even if he replaces Shettima with another northern Muslim, the perception of betrayal will remain, leading to massive voter loss. The only wise path is to maintain the winning formula that secured victory in 2023,” the Forum concluded.