A report has indicated that President Bola Tinubu is being pressured to field a religion balanced ticket as he goes for re-election in 2027.
Sources who spoke to Daily Sun disclosed that forces from the United States have signified their interest for a Muslim-Christian ticket in Tinubu’s quest to retain his position as president of Nigeria beyond 2027.
According to the source, dropping Vice President Kashim Shettima as running mate to Tinubu has been touted since the mid-term of the government.
While most APC governors are backing the retention of Shettima in the 2027 election, it was gathered that some stakeholders around President Tinubu want him dropped for a Christian.
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, is said to top the list of those being tipped as possible vice presidential candidate to President Tinubu on the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in 2027.
Also mentioned is former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara and Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen Christopher Musa.
Sources revealed that the initial consideration before the pressure from the US forces on Muslim-Christian ticket was to drop Shettima as vice presidential candidate and use either the former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari or the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu as replacement.
The latest demand from the US on religious balancing appears to have jeopardised the consideration to retain Shettima or pick another Muslim to run with President Tinubu in 2027.
Daily Sun learnt that the Tinubu team, in considering the US condition, is looking for an incentive for Shettima if he is eventually dropped as vice president.
The option, post-2027, is to make him Nigeria’s permanent representative at the United Nations and to give him presidential support to contest the presidency in 2031, sources revealed.
The snag in the option of supporting Shettima for the presidency in 2031 is the suggestion by the forces in the US that, after President Tinubu, power should rotate to the South East.
It was gathered that the elements in the US believe that conceding the presidency to the Southeast in 2031 would form part of the process for national healing and inclusion in the country.
Meanwhile, those pushing for the choice of Kukah as vice presidential candidate are expressing doubt if the Catholic Bishop would accept to dabble into politics or if the Vatican would agree to release him for the assignment.
Sources revealed that Bishop Kukah would be approached if the Tinubu team succumbs to the pressure to have a Muslim-Christian ticket in 2027.
Political pundits told Daily Sun that the US political elements’ interest in Nigeria’s election should not come as a surprise, as, in recent times, America has shown concern about Nigeria as it relates to Christians.