The decision by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election has reignited debate over the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, drawing mixed reactions from political parties and stakeholders across the country.

The APC on Friday confirmed that Tinubu and Shettima would once again fly the party’s presidential flag, putting an end to months of speculation that the President might opt for a Northern Christian as his running mate.

The announcement has revived discussions reminiscent of the 2023 general election build-up, when Tinubu, a Muslim from the South-West, selected Shettima, a fellow Muslim from the North-East. At the time, critics argued that the same-faith ticket undermined Nigeria’s religious balance, although the APC ultimately secured victory at the polls.

Reacting to the development, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) stressed that competence, rather than religious identity, should dominate political considerations in 2027. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ejimofor Opara, urged Nigerians to assess candidates based on their performance and leadership capacity.

Similarly, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) maintained that integrity, accountability, and competence must take precedence over religious or ethnic considerations. Its spokesman, Wale Egbeola-Martins, noted that Nigeria’s enduring challenge has been a deficit of purposeful leadership rather than the faith of those in power.

“The real challenge confronting our nation since the return to democratic rule has not been ethnicity or religion, but the lack of accountable and effective leadership,” he said, adding that the YPP remains committed to merit-driven politics focused on national interest.

Defending its position, the APC said the decision to retain Shettima was guided by national interest and political realities. The party’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, explained that all relevant factors, including religious sensitivities, were carefully considered before arriving at the decision.

He dismissed fears that the same-faith ticket could deepen divisions, insisting that the Tinubu administration has continued to promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different religious backgrounds.

On his part, the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yabagi Yusuf, described the move as a strategic political calculation. According to him, political parties typically assemble tickets they believe have the strongest chances of winning elections.

“It’s politics. They must have done their calculations and concluded that this combination offers their best chance. Ultimately, elections are determined by where the votes are,” he stated.

Meanwhile, a former National Publicity Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Mark Adebayo, downplayed the likelihood of the Muslim-Muslim ticket dominating the 2027 political discourse as it did in 2023.

He argued that Nigerians are more likely to focus on pressing national issues such as insecurity, economic challenges, and the overall performance of the current administration.

“I do not think the same-faith ticket will generate the same level of attention in 2027. The election will be driven more by security, the economy, and governance outcomes,” Adebayo said.

In the same vein, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) urged Nigerians to prioritize competence over religious affiliation when assessing political leaders. Its President, Jonathan Lokpobiri, emphasized the need for leadership that is capable, decisive, and people-oriented.

“What Nigeria needs is a competent and compassionate leader who can take tough decisions and improve the lives of citizens. Religion should not be the determining factor,” he said.

Prior to the APC’s announcement, several prominent figures, including the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, had been speculated as potential replacements for Shettima.