A coalition of Christian and human rights organisations has petitioned United States President Donald Trump, the US Congress and foreign diplomatic missions over reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) may retain President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket for the 2027 general election.
The coalition, operating under the banner of the Christian Youth Alliance of Nigeria (CYAN), argued that retaining the same ticket could further fuel concerns about religious imbalance in Nigeria’s political leadership and deepen feelings of exclusion among some Christian communities.
The petition, signed by the group’s leaders and made available to journalists in Jos, Plateau State, called on the international community to pay closer attention to the security challenges facing Christians, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
According to CYAN, the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the APC in the 2023 presidential election marked a departure from Nigeria’s long-standing political practice of balancing the country’s top elective offices along religious lines.
The coalition claimed that maintaining the Tinubu-Shettima ticket ahead of the 2027 election could heighten religious tensions and weaken confidence in inclusive governance.
Beyond the issue of the presidential ticket, the group criticised the Federal Government’s policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant terrorists, insisting that individuals involved in terrorism should be prosecuted rather than reintegrated into society.
The petition also urged the United States to retain Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), arguing that any future review should depend on independently verified improvements in the protection of Christian communities.
CYAN further called for transparent investigations into attacks on Christian communities in Plateau, Benue and other affected states, while appealing for sustained humanitarian assistance for victims displaced by violence.
The coalition also requested an investigation into alleged foreign influence in Nigeria’s political process, claiming that some Arab countries could be supporting efforts to retain the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, although it did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.
The APC has consistently defended its Tinubu-Shettima ticket since the 2023 election, maintaining that both leaders were chosen based on competence, political experience and their capacity to deliver effective governance rather than religious considerations.
The ruling party has repeatedly argued that its focus remains on implementing its policy agenda and delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians, insisting that performance, national unity and development should remain the key considerations ahead of the 2027 general election.
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