₦airaland Forum

Fresh political discussions suggest that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is quietly assessing four prominent northern Christian leaders as possible running mates ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Sources across print, broadcast and online media have consistently mentioned former Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Defence Minister Lt-Gen. Christopher Musa (retd), Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, as names in serious circulation within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to multiple reports, the President’s inner circle has been reviewing these options as part of a broader political strategy aimed at balancing religion and geography, with all four potential picks coming from the predominantly Christian northern states.

Analysts note that Tinubu, as the APC standard-bearer, retains constitutional freedom to select his running mate from any part of the country, as provided under the 1999 Constitution.

The renewed debate follows lingering criticism of the Muslim–Muslim ticket adopted in the 2023 elections, which drew scrutiny both within and outside Nigeria—including comments from U.S. officials encouraging more inclusive representation in federal governance.

Christian associations, civil society organisations and community groups have repeatedly voiced concerns about insecurity in northern Christian communities, arguing that balanced political representation may encourage stronger national unity.

However, northern Muslim groups counter that insecurity has devastated both Muslims and Christians across the region, citing Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks, banditry and mass kidnappings in several states as evidence that the crisis is universal, not sectarian.

Political commentators are now asking a central question: which of the four figures—Dogara, Musa, Mutfwang or Kukah—best embodies a unifying vision capable of driving national peace and shared prosperity?

Beyond religion and ethnicity, observers stress that Nigeria’s next leadership must prioritise stability, economic growth and equal treatment for all citizens across its six geopolitical zones and 774 local government areas.
As the political calendar moves closer to 2027, the debate over Tinubu’s choice of running mate is expected to intensify, shaping alliances and conversations within the ruling party and beyond.


© 2026 GUARDIAN Newspapers. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

fake news ,now that everyone know the muslim-muslim ticket does not mean islamization of nigeria na now he go come change am

It will be interesting how Shettima and his supporters will react to Tinubu dropping him as running mate?

I am not sure a Christian northerner will fly amongst muslim northerners. It may end up giving atiku an edge over tinubu in the 2027 polls

Koralords:
fake news ,now that everyone know the muslim-muslim ticket does not mean islamization of nigeria na now he go come change am

Lol. Are you scared? Who is everyone? Is Tinubu still banking on running on muslim-muslim ticket? I thought some Agbadorians told us he won't be needing hausa/fulani votes again?

@Coputa, insert any of the original links below to have your thread moved to frontpage.

https://guardian.ng/politics/tinubu-may-pick-musa-kukah-two-others-as-running-mate-in-2027/

https://thesun.ng/2027-kukah-dogara-musa-tipped-as-possible-tinubus-vp/

I don't think having a Christian vice makes Tinubu's reelection chances easier. It really doesn't matter. Tinubu himself is a problem on any ticket.

I don't think president Tinubu has a choice, especially now that Trump is parroting similar anti-christian Nigerian sentiment. Besides this might be the right time for Tinubu to write the wrong of 2023. He is now strong enough to discontenance all these Northern religious extremists who believe a Northern Muslim must be president or VP.

obeegee:
It will be interesting how Shettima and his supporters will react to Tinubu dropping him as running mate?

I am not sure a Christian northerner will fly amongst muslim northerners. It may end up giving atiku an edge over tinubu in the 2027 polls

It will not be Tinubu's wish to do so but America has allegedly handed him a matching order to balance the ticket. The Northeast and indeed, the entire North will react by pitching their tents elsewhere. Meanwhile, doing so will still not win Tinubu the christian or Southern votes. Tinubu has no pathway to re-election.

Thedon22:
I don't think president Tinubu has a choice, especially now that Trump is parroting similar anti-christian Nigerian sentiment. Besides this might be the right time for Tinubu to write the wrong of 2023. He is now strong enough to discontenance all these Northern religious extremists who believe a Northern Muslim must be president or VP.

The "Northern religious extremists" gave him 5.6m votes to make him President and he totally enjoyed it. Infact, he kept aiming to drop Shettima and replace him with Kwankwaso, another Northern muslim. Have they suddenly become a pariah now that Donald Trump have instructed him to balance the ticket? Do you think this strategy can win you Christian votes?

Shettima has nothing to offer and should be dumped. The pick was a mistake.

Koralords:
fake news ,now that everyone know the muslim-muslim ticket does not mean islamization of nigeria na now he go come change am

Spot on. Besides, why anger the North by making a move that will definitely be deemed anti-Moslem and thus a voting turn-off against Tinubu by the many Moslems in the North?

AMINDA:
The "Northern religious extremists" gave him 5.6m votes to make him President and he totally enjoyed it. Infact, he kept aiming to drop Shettima and replace him with Kwankwaso, another Northern muslim. Have they suddenly become a pariah now that Donald Trump have instructed him to balance the ticket? Do you think this strategy can win you Christian votes?

Replacing Shettima with Kwakwanso does not make any difference. The Muslim -Muslim ticket was out of necessity but things have changed in the last 3years. He now has 30govs in APC so he need not fear losing to anyone. He should balance religion with Muslim-Christian presidency.

WizardOfNG:
Spot on. Besides, why anger the North by making a move that will definitely be deemed anti-Moslem and thus a voting turn-off against Tinubu by the many Moslems in the North?

The fear of Donald Trump is the beginning of common sense. Who told you the North will be angered by the move and what does it matter if they are? Tinubu's pathway to re-election is Southwest, Southsouth, Southeast and middlebelt. He does not need Northern Muslim votes. We will all learn politics together.

Let's see how it goes, but if Nigerians are serious, Tinubu ought not to be reelected in 2027

AMINDA:
It will not be Tinubu's wish to do so but America has allegedly handed him a matching order to balance the ticket. The Northeast and indeed, the entire North will react by pitching their tents elsewhere. Meanwhile, doing so will still not win Tinubu the christian or Southern votes. Tinubu has no pathway to re-election.

You were there when America handed him the order to "balance the ticket"?

So the USA is now focused on a Christian VP for Nigeria in 2027 yet we are to believe the nation lacks the intelligence to know the VP position in Nigeria is largely inconsequential? Meaning it really makes no difference who occupies the VP's office?

Aside a President using the VP position to 'balance' votes, per how over-religious Nigeria is, what use is the VP position? What executive power does it have the President cannot shut down?

We must finish this MM ticket till 2031

AMINDA:
The fear of Donald Trump is the beginning of common sense. Who told you the North will be angered by the move and what does it matter if they are? Tinubu's pathway to re-election is Southwest, Southsouth, Southeast and middlebelt. He does not need Northern Muslim votes. We will all learn politics together.

Senseless talk as usual. A strategically intelligent candidate tries to mop up all votes possible.

He does not segregate or alienate a section of the electorate needlessly and self-destructively.

You would not know nor understand that concept though given politics of enmity, hatred and toxicity is all you know.

WizardOfNG:
Senseless talk as usual. A strategically intelligent candidate tries to mop up all votes possible.

He does not segregate or alienate a section of the electorate needlessly and self-destructively.

You would not know nor understand that concept though given politics of enmity, hatred and toxicity is all you know.

Lol. Why then did Tinubu run on muslim-muslim ticket in 2023? Didn't he consider that he will be segregating or alienating a section of the electorate needlessly and self-destructively?

Tinubu must finish his MM ticket

Why always talking about 2027 politics for so many months now. Even way before it was 2027, more than a year ago.
This is complete Sickness! Serious mentally illness

AMINDA:
Lol. Why then did Tinubu run on muslim-muslim ticket in 2023? Didn't he consider that he will be segregating or alienating a section of the electorate needlessly and self-destructively?

He did it to get votes from Muslims in the north and he got it.

coputa:
He did it to get votes from Muslims in the north and he got it.

Edit the thread and insert the link from The Guardian.

https://guardian.ng/politics/tinubu-may-pick-musa-kukah-two-others-as-running-mate-in-2027/

AMINDA:
Edit the thread and insert the link from The Guardian.

https://guardian.ng/politics/tinubu-may-pick-musa-kukah-two-others-as-running-mate-in-2027/

Is there any benefits of moving ones thread to front page.its at the MOD discretion.

Let’s be real, if Tinubu drops Shettima in 2027, he’s lost the entire Northern Nigeria before the campaign even begins. Shettima isn’t just a running mate, he’s the glue that holds APC’s northern coalition together.

All these talks about Dogara, Mutfwang, Musa, or even Kukah are nice on paper, but none of them have Shettima’s political reach, northern Muslim credentials, or grassroots support. Northern voters know loyalty and familiarity matter.

Tinubu needs to understand: messing with Shettima isn’t just a choice, it’s a strategic disaster waiting to happen. Northern votes won’t follow empty experiments.

Dogalmighty17:
I don't think having a Christian vice makes Tinubu's reelection chances easier. It really doesn't matter. Tinubu himself is a problem on any ticket.

Baba collecting more loans, no major projects to justify subsidy windfall .

AMINDA:
The "Northern religious extremists" gave him 5.6m votes to make him President and he totally enjoyed it. Infact, he kept aiming to drop Shettima and replace him with Kwankwaso, another Northern muslim. Have they suddenly become a pariah now that Donald Trump have instructed him to balance the ticket? Do you think this strategy can win you Christian votes?

And it’s because of that pressure from the US that he dropped Kwankwaso as VP, and that’s why Kwankwaso doesn’t want to defect again, because he can’t be anything other than VP

He is picking Joe Igbokwe

BondRiv:
Shettima has nothing to offer and should be dumped. The pick was a mistake.

The VP should be given to Barr Nyesome Wike

WizardOfNG:
You were there when America handed him the order to "balance the ticket"?
So the USA is now focused on a Christian VP for Nigeria in 2027 yet we are to believe the nation lacks the intelligence to know the VP position in Nigeria is largely inconsequential? Meaning it really makes no difference who occupies the VP's office?
Aside a President using the VP position to 'balance' votes, per how over-religious Nigeria is, what use is the VP position? What executive power does it have the President cannot shut down?

So, it was Tinubu's decision to call back the Gen Musa that he forced to retire and make him Defence Minister abi. How many times have a Northerner Christian held such a powerful position in Nigeria?
The same forces that pushed Tinubu to drop Badaru abi kilorukwe' will force him to chose a Christian running mate.

He’ll fail miserably if he picks any Northern Christian over their Muslim counterpart.

He can’t try it. He wants northern votes.

The fall of Tinupoo is upon us

Gotocourt:
Baba collecting more loans, no major projects to justify subsidy windfall .

Exactly bro, I’m tired of his administration. So dysfunctional

Koralords:
fake news ,now that everyone know the muslim-muslim ticket does not mean islamization of nigeria na now he go come change am

Leave them. Some people dey reason from their anus. If he gambled it d first time and won, why would he change it ? Doing that night even cause him problem in the North. Besides, the so called names mentioned here are not even politically grounded in their local governments more less their states or region. Even if he's changing Shettima, it's likely going to be another Muslim who is politically stronger.