In the midst of preparations for the 2027 presidential elections in Nigeria, a prominent figure within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has voiced his optimism regarding the party’s potential for success. Professor Haruna Yerima, a chieftain of the APC, expressed his confidence that President Bola Tinubu would emerge victorious in the upcoming election if he were to choose Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate. This statement comes as a response to a recent declaration by the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF), which advised President Tinubu to reconsider his choice of running mate to avoid a repetition of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
The NENF had urged President Tinubu to select a Christian from the Plateau, Benue, or Taraba states as his running mate, citing the need to alleviate concerns about an Islamisation agenda under his presidency. The group further suggested that retaining a Muslim-Muslim ticket could potentially hand the opposition a ready-made campaign strategy. However, Professor Yerima has dismissed these claims, describing them as fallacious and unfounded. He emphasized that the notion that the APC might lose the 2027 presidential election with Tinubu and Shettima on the ticket is “insane and unfounded.”
Professor Yerima, a former member of the House of Representatives, also addressed the speculation that a potential ticket featuring Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi could defeat the Tinubu/Shettima combination. He characterized this insinuation as “jaundiced and amateur” and lacking in empirical backing. Moreover, he criticized the statement issued by Dominic Alancha of the NENF, labeling the organization as “faceless” and dismissing their advice to President Tinubu to drop Vice President Shettima.
The debate surrounding the choice of running mate for President Tinubu in the 2027 election highlights the complex dynamics at play in Nigerian politics. The decision will undoubtedly have significant implications for the country’s political landscape and the fortunes of the APC. As the election draws closer, the conversation around the Muslim-Muslim ticket and its potential impact on the outcome is likely to continue, with various stakeholders offering their perspectives on the matter.
In the context of Nigeria’s diverse religious and ethnic makeup, the selection of a running mate can be a sensitive issue. President Tinubu’s choice will be closely watched, as it may influence the electoral prospects of the APC and shape the country’s political trajectory in the years to come. The ongoing discussion reflects the intricacies of Nigerian politics, where regional, religious, and ethnic considerations often intersect with party affiliations and national interests.
As the 2027 presidential election approaches, the APC and its leadership will need to navigate these complexities carefully, balancing the demands of different constituencies while seeking to maintain a broad appeal that can propel the party to victory. The statements by Professor Yerima and the NENF underscore the importance of strategic decision-making in the lead-up to the election, as various groups and individuals seek to influence the outcome and shape the future of Nigeria’s political leadership.
