APC Chieftain Vatsa has warned Tinubu against Muslim-Muslim Ticket and stated that Christians may reject APC.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has criticised the reported decision by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, warning that the move could affect the party’s support among Christian voters.
Vatsa, a former Niger State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, described the reported Muslim-Muslim ticket as politically insensitive, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the 2023 election had changed.
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In a statement issued in Minna on Saturday, the APC chieftain said repeating the same-faith ticket could create dissatisfaction among Christians and negatively impact the party’s electoral prospects.
“I think this is a grievous mistake by the APC. It is highly insensitive,” Vatsa said.
According to him, those responsible for the decision “did not mean well” for President Tinubu and the ruling party, particularly given current concerns over insecurity and the safety of religious communities across the country.
“With the current situation in the country and the concerns over the safety of Christians, nobody expected the President to repeat this arrangement,” he stated.
Vatsa argued that the APC may face challenges convincing Christian voters to support the ticket in 2027, especially if opposition parties present candidates with Christian running mates.
“What do you expect us to tell the Christian community, to vote for another Muslim-Muslim ticket?” he asked.
The APC chieftain, who had earlier advised Niger State Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago to select a Christian running mate ahead of the 2027 governorship election, said many Christians would feel better represented with a Christian vice-presidential candidate.
He warned that retaining the same-faith ticket could have serious political consequences for the APC’s chances in the next general election.
However, Vatsa clarified that his position was not motivated by opposition to Vice President Shettima or the Muslim community, stressing that his concerns were based on principles of fairness and balance in Nigeria’s political arrangement.
“I have nothing against the Vice President or the Muslim community. I am speaking for equity, justice and fairness in the political arrangement of the country,” he added.
The debate over the APC’s 2027 presidential ticket continues to generate reactions from party members and political stakeholders ahead of the election.
