2027: Kukah, Dogara, Musa Emerge As Possible Tinubu Running Mates— As US Interests Push For Religious Balance
Pressure is reportedly mounting on President Bola Tinubu to ensure religious balance on his presidential ticket as he prepares for a possible re-election bid in 2027, Daily Sun has learnt.
Competent sources disclosed that interests from the United States have expressed a preference for a Muslim-Christian ticket in Tinubu’s quest to retain power beyond 2027. This development has reportedly triggered renewed discussions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on possible replacements for Vice President Kashim Shettima.
According to sources, several names have been proposed as potential vice presidential candidates should Tinubu decide to reshuffle his ticket. Topping the list is the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah. Others mentioned include former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, and the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd).
Bishop Kukah and Gen. Musa are from Kaduna State, while Dogara hails from Bauchi State.
Sources revealed that discussions about dropping Vice President Shettima began as far back as the mid-term of the current administration. While many APC governors are said to favour retaining Shettima for the 2027 election, some individuals close to the President reportedly prefer replacing him with another Muslim.
Before the reported pressure from US interests, it was gathered that the initial plan was to drop Shettima and replace him with either former Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, or the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
However, the latest push for religious balancing is said to have complicated those plans, effectively ruling out the option of running a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027.
Daily Sun further learnt that the Tinubu camp is considering possible compensatory options for Shettima should he be dropped. Among the options being discussed are appointing him as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations after 2027 or supporting him to contest the presidency in 2031.
Sources, however, noted a major challenge to the 2031 option. According to them, US political elements are of the view that power should rotate to the South-East after Tinubu’s tenure as part of a broader strategy for national healing and inclusion.
Meanwhile, proponents of Bishop Kukah’s possible nomination have expressed doubts over whether the Catholic cleric would be willing to venture into partisan politics, or whether the Vatican would permit him to take up such a political role.
Sources said Bishop Kukah would only be formally approached if the Tinubu camp ultimately yields to the pressure to adopt a Muslim-Christian ticket for 2027.
Political analysts told Daily Sun that growing interest by US political actors in Nigeria’s electoral process should not be surprising, noting that the United States has, in recent times, expressed concern over the treatment and welfare of Christians in Nigeria.
