The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has warned President Bola Tinubu that he may lose up to 80 per cent of northern Muslim votes if he drops Vice President, Kashim Shettima, in 2027.
The North-Central APC Forum issued the warning in a statement released by its Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, in Abuja on Saturday.
Zazzaga, a member of the APC campaign council for the 2023 election, noted that the adoption of the Muslim-Muslim ticket was a strategy to win the election and does not amount to marginalisation of Christians and other religions.
The APC Forum advised Tinubu to maintain the status quo andrunn with Shettima as his running mateinn the2027 electio to secure victoryn.
“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. We can guarantee that Tinubu will get 90 percent of the votes from the North-Central,” the statement said, adding that Tinubu’s achievements in office will guarantee his reelection.
The North-Central APC Forum further argued that those who are asking Tinubu to drop the Muslim-Muslim ticket did not vote for him in 2023 and would still not give him their votes in 2027, even if he bows to their wish by dropping Shettima.
Parts of the statement read, “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.
“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 APC Forum accused those campaigning against Shettima and the Muslim-Muslim ticket of mischief, noting that they are seeking Tinubu’s defeat in 2027.
“We advise Mr President not to gamble with the 2023 election. President Tinubu will lose 80 per cent 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,” the statement stressed.
Post a Comment