“Drop Shettima And Lose 80% Of Northern Votes” – APC To Tinubu

 

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against dropping Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate in the 2027 election.

According to the forum, abandoning the Muslim-Muslim ticket could cost Tinubu 80% of northern Muslim votes.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the forum advised Tinubu to maintain the status quo, citing the party’s success in the 2023 election. “Those that are calling on President Bola Tinubu to change Vice President Kashim Shettima, basing their agitation on the Muslim-Muslim ticket, if you check, you will notice that in 2023, most of their communities voted for Peter Obi of the Labour Party,” the statement read.

The forum questioned the logic behind Tinubu dropping Shettima, given that those agitating for the change may not necessarily vote for him in 2027. “Now 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 is to drop Shettima and replace him with a Christian? Does it mean that these people will now leave Peter Obi and vote for Tinubu?”

The North-Central APC Forum accused those campaigning against Shettima and the Muslim-Muslim ticket of mischief, saying they don’t want Tinubu to win reelection. “The truth is most of these people are not Tinubu’s supporters, they don’t really want him to win reelection in 2027.”

The forum also warned Tinubu about alleged efforts by some individuals close to him to alienate and marginalize northern Muslim communities while focusing on northern Christians. “These people who are concentrating on northern Christians should consider this – what if the 2023 scenario repeats itself in 2027 with Peter Obi also contesting and President Tinubu now loses both Christian and Muslim votes?”

The statement concluded by advising Tinubu to stick with Shettima, saying changing the Vice President would be a gamble that could cost him the election. “We advise Mr President not to gamble with the 2023 election. President Tinubu will lose 80 percent of northern Muslim votes if he decides to change Shettima. Even if he decides to replace him with another northern Muslim, he will lose northern Muslim votes so the best approach is to maintain the status quo and go with what worked for him in the last election.”