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2027: You will lose 80% of Northern Muslim votes if you change Shettima – APC Forum warns Tinubu

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The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum has warned that President Bola Tinubu could lose 80 percent of northern Muslim votes if he bows to calls to jettison the Muslim-Muslim ticket and drop Vice President Kashim Shettima in 2027.

The North-Central APC Forum issued the warning in a statement released by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, in Abuja on Saturday.

Ahead of the 2027 election, Tinubu has come under pressure with various groups and stakeholders urging him to drop Shettima as his running mate. Some elements in the APC argue that the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which gave Tinubu victory in 2023, will not work in 2027, when he will be seeking a second term in office.

In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum, led by Dominic Alancha, warned Tinubu against a repeat of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, noting that it cost the APC several northern states like Nasarawa, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory in the 2023 presidential poll. Alancha further warned that the APC would lose more grounds in the North, particularly in the Middle Belt, if the party repeats the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the next presidential election.

However, responding to the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum’s call on Tibubu to drop the Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2027 election, the North-Central APC Forum, in the statement signed by 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 election and does not amount to marginalization of Christians and other religions.

Countering the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum’s assertion that Tinubu would lose Christian votes in the Middle Belt if he goes ahead with a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the North-Central APC Forum insisted that there is no way the President will lose the region, with prominent Middle Belt christians such as APC National Chairman Prof Nentawe Yilwatda and Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume, along others, holding key positions.

“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 and as a result, there is no need to take the “needless risk of changing a winning team”.

The APC Forum advised Tinubu to maintain the status quo and go into the 2027 election with Shettima as his running mate, so as to win the election.

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 also 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.

“The truth is most of these people are not Tinubu’s supporters, they don’t really want him to win reelection in 2027. That is why some of them are going as far as urging Mr President to drop those that went to great lengths to work for his victory in 2023. They are only trying to deceive Mr President but we believe the President knows better and will be able to see through their mischief. They don’t mean well for Mr President and the party.”

The Forum, in the same vein, alleged that some people who claim to be working for the President’s reelection are alienating and marginalizing northern Muslim communities, while concentrating attention on northern Christians.

“Another issue that we want to bring to Mr President’s attention is there are people close to him – we will not mention their names but they know themselves. They are going about in different communities in the North, giving money to some communities while excluding others all in the name of asking northern Christian communities to vote for Tinubu. But while they are doing that they are alienating and marginalizing northern Muslim communities. This is counter productive and it will backfire eventually and we don’t want Mr President to suffer because of the poor decisions of these people who are close to him.

“Now these people who are concentrating on northern Christians should consider this – what if the 2023 scenario repeats itself in 2027 with Peter Obi also contesting and President Tinubu now loses both Christian and Muslim votes? What if the Christian communities again vote for Obi and the Muslim communities who are now being neglected also refuse to vote for Tinubu?

“These are the issues that these people who are calling on Mr President to drop Shettima are either not thinking about, or are ignoring because they are up to mischief and do not mean well for the President and the APC.

“Our sincere advise for Mr President is that he should maintain the status quo that produced him. We are not in support of calls for President Tinubu to change the Vice President. Changing Kashim Shettima will not bear any positive fruit in the election because, looking at the results of the 2023 election, all the Christian dominated areas in the North voted for Peter Obi and we don’t expect a different outcome in 2027. Rather, President Tinubu risks losing a large chunk of northern Muslim votes if he listens to these calls and goes ahead to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima.

“We advise Mr President not to gamble with the 2023 election. President Tinubu will lose 80 percent 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.

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Politics

Wike to PDP govs: Your actions will bury party

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused the governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party of running the party with arrogance and impunity.

Wike warned that the governors’ actions and disregard for due process could lead to the total collapse of the party.

The FCT minister spoke on Friday during the October edition of his monthly media chat in Abuja.

“The way these present governors are going, they will bury this party. I’m the FCT Minister, for Christ’s sake—forget about whatever you think. Are you telling me that, as it is today, because I’m not a governor, you will go and hold a PDP stakeholders’ meeting, exclude me, and then expect to survive? Assuming I’m not the FCT Minister, by the role that I have played in the PDP till now, simply because I’m not a governor, I cannot be consulted in making decisions of the party? Certainly not!

“Two or three people cannot go and sit somewhere, make a decision, and then tell me that because they are governors, I should follow such a decision,” he stated.

He described the party’s national convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, as illegal.

Wike insisted that he would not attend any convention that fails to comply with the party’s constitutional procedures, saying his attendance would amount to endorsing illegality.

In the lead-up to the national convention, the PDP has been engulfed in tension as rival factions clash over control of its leadership structure.

Last week, the party’s chairman in Imo State, Austin Nwachukwu; his Abia State counterpart, Abraham Nnanna; and the South-South Zonal Secretary, George Turnah, filed a suit at a Federal High Court seeking to halt preparations for the convention until a substantive case before the court is resolved.

For more than a year, the PDP has been mired in a series of internal crises, with governors elected on its platform and Wike’s loyalists locked in a fierce struggle over control of the party machinery.

Also, the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, a known Wike loyalist, last week petitioned the Department of State Services, the Inspector General of Police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, alleging forgery of his signature on communications related to the upcoming convention.

Speaking on the internal crisis rocking the party at the media chat, Wike condemned what he described as the sidelining of key stakeholders in major party decisions, including preparations for the convention.

According to him, attempts by a few governors to dominate the party and control the outcome of the convention without due process were illegal and detrimental to the party’s unity.

He said the conduct of some governors was pushing the party toward self-destruction, stressing that the ruling All Progressives Congress was not responsible for the party’s woes.

Wike said, “You (governors) go and take a decision, and then you sideline certain people. What do you expect to have? You will have a faction. Is that not embarrassing? Why are you not following due process in holding a national convention?

“I have said it, and I will continue to say it: the moment you think that you can sideline certain people and nothing will happen, you cause a major crisis in the party.

“If you do the right thing, would anybody challenge the convention? People think they are too smart. You have not done your congresses for those who will participate in that convention. All you are interested in is, ‘Let’s go and do the convention.’ You want to deny so many states the opportunity to participate in the convention, and we say you cannot do that.”

When asked if he would attend the convention, Wike said, “If a proper convention is to be held, why won’t I go? But I won’t go to a convention I know is filled with illegalities. How do you expect me to attend a convention that I know, by law, is not a valid convention?”

Wike also faulted the decision-making process within the PDP, accusing the party’s governors of excluding other influential members and arrogating powers to themselves.

“When you make a fundamental mistake by arrogating powers to yourself, of course, you will suffer the effect.

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Wike says PDP may fall apart because governors sideline him

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The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has slammed governors of the Peoples Democratic Party for sidelining him in major party decisions, warning that such exclusionary practices could threaten the party’s survival.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Wike expressed frustration over being left out of key consultations despite his long-standing influence and role within the PDP.

He said, “Have I not said it before now that the booby trap you are setting will consume you? The way these present governors are doing, they will bury this party.”

The minister questioned why his exclusion was justified simply because he no longer holds a governorship position.

“I am the FCT Minister. Are you telling me that because I am not a governor, you will hold a PDP stakeholders’ meeting and exclude me, and then expect the party to survive?” he queried.

He added, “Assuming I am not a minister, by the role I have played in the PDP till now, is it right to say I cannot be consulted in taking decisions of the party? Certainly not.”

Wike further criticised the notion that internal crises could be blamed on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the PDP’s problems were self-inflicted.

“All these talks about APC are rubbish. Is it the APC that makes you take wrong decisions? You mean two or three people, because they are governors and receive large allocations, will go and decide, and you tell me to follow? Follow who?” he queried.

Speaking on the party’s planned national convention, Wike said the leadership had failed to complete necessary congresses and other key processes, which he claimed were stalling progress.

“If they do the right thing, will anybody stall the convention? They have not done the congresses and other things that should be in place,” he said.

The PDP has, in recent months, faced internal crises and a wave of defections involving top members such as Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Umo Eno. The party is also battling multiple legal suits over its forthcoming convention.

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PICTURES: Protest rocks APC headquarters over Kayode Ojo’s Ekiti primary exclusion

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A protest erupted at the All Progressives Congress National Secretariat in Abuja on Friday, as party members from Ekiti State voiced outrage over the exclusion of Kayode Ojo from the upcoming governorship primary.

 

The APC National Working Committee had, a few weeks ago, disqualified Ojo from participating in the October 27 primary in Ekiti State, effectively clearing the path for the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to emerge as the consensus candidate.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the Ekiti State governorship election for July 20, 2026.

The protesters, mainly women, chanted slogans such as “Ekiti says No to Governor Biodun Oyebanji,” “No to Consensus,” and “Yes to Kayode Ojo.”

They carried placards with inscriptions including “We Say No to Kayode Ojo’s Disqualification,” “We Don’t Want Consensus,” “Ekiti Women Reject BAO,” “We Reject BAO,” and “APC Must Let Ekiti People Choose Their Candidate.”

Subsequently, in a statement issued on October 14 by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC announced that it had adopted a consensus candidate for the primary following the voluntary withdrawal of one of the two cleared aspirants, Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo.

Leader of the protesters, Abereniola Mercy, addressing the press in Abuja on Friday during a protest against the disqualification of Kayode Ojo from the forthcoming APC Ekiti governorship primary.
Photo Credit: Abdulrahman Zakariyau

On behalf of the protesters, Abereniola Mercy expressed that the people of Ekiti believe Ojo is the best candidate for the governorship position.

She stated, “We have gathered here today because the people of Ekiti State firmly believe that Kayode Ojo is the right man to lead us as our next governor. Across towns and communities, there is a renewed sense of hope and determination among our people. They are not only ready to vote for him but are also prepared to work tirelessly to ensure his victory in the forthcoming election.

“Our presence here is to draw the attention of the party leadership to the challenges and frustrations we are experiencing in Ekiti State. We reject Ojo’s disqualification and demand his reinstatement to enable him to participate in the APC primary.We want them to understand that the people have made their choice, and that choice is Kayode Ojo. He is a man of integrity, humility, and competence someone who genuinely cares about the development of our state and the welfare of its citizens.

“We are appealing to our great party not to impose any consensus arrangement on us. What we desire is a fair, transparent, and credible primary election where every delegate will have the opportunity to freely choose their preferred candidate. Consensus should not be forced upon the people when they are united in their choice.

“Therefore, we call on the national leadership of our party to respect the democratic will of Ekiti people. Give us the chance to decide through the ballot, because we are fully ready to stand behind Kayode Ojo as our next governor in 2026.”

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