Direct insult to Christians’ — Vatsa Lampoons Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket for 2027
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Commissioner for Information Information in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has lampooned President Bola Tinubu for choosing his fellow Muslim, Kashim Shettima as running mate for the 2027 elections, describing the choice as "a direct insult" to Christians.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Commissioner for Information Information in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has lampooned President Bola Tinubu for choosing his fellow Muslim, Kashim Shettima as running mate for the 2027 elections, describing the choice as "a direct insult" to Christians.
Tinubu had announced his decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, but Vasta warned that Christians will not support another Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Vatsa further described the move as “a direct insult” to the Christian community, saying it was politically insensitive and could cost the ruling party Christian votes.
In a statement in Minna weekend, the former commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism said the circumstances which justified the same-faith ticket in 2023 no longer existed.
“I think this is a grievous mistake by the APC. It is highly insensitive,” he said, pointing out that, those behind the decision “did not mean well” for the President or the APC.
“With the current situation in the country and the concerns over the safety of Christians, nobody expected the President to repeat this arrangement.
“What do you expect us to tell the Christian community, to vote for another Muslim-Muslim ticket?” Vatsa said.
He further noted that the APC would struggle to convince Christians to support its ticket in 2027, especially if other political parties field Christian candidates.
Vatsa, who recently urged Niger State Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago to pick a Christian running mate for the 2027 governorship election, said Christians already felt insecure and would be more comfortable with a Christian vice-presidential candidate.
He further warned that repeating the Muslim-Muslim ticket could have “grievous consequences” for the APC’s electoral chances in 2027.
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