2027: Such Discussions Are Already Taking Place – Dogara Speaks On Replacing Shettima As Vice President

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has asked to be excluded from rumours suggesting that he could replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate ahead of the 2027 general election.

Naijaonpoint reports that Dogara spoke on Sunday during a political programme on Channels Television, January 25, 2026.

While reacting to growing talks that the All Progressives Congress may again present a Muslim–Muslim ticket in the next election, the former lawmaker said decisions about leadership should not be driven by fear or pressure but by what is right for the country.

According to him, Nigeria needs a government that brings people of different backgrounds together and allows everyone to feel included.

The former Speaker said the issue of power rotation should also include talks about religious balance, adding that such balance goes beyond regions and concerns the Christian and Muslim communities across the country.

He explained that when a Muslim is chosen as a candidate, the person should be seen as representing Muslims, whether from the North or the South, and when a Christian is chosen, the person should represent Christians from any part of the country.

He said this approach would help the nation achieve fairness and unity.

Dogara confirmed that talks about the 2027 ticket are already going on and said that sitting presidents usually secure their party’s nomination.

He said the final choice would be made by President Tinubu.

The former lawmaker added that if many Nigerians strongly call for balance, the president, as a democrat, would likely listen to public opinion.

He also warned against allowing religion to divide the North, saying such division only weakens the region and the country as a whole.

He said: “It’s a discussion, and I am aware that such discussions are already taking place.

“But I would have sincerely pleaded with you to leave me out of this, but let me say something. Whatever we are doing shouldn’t be because we are afraid of anybody breathing down our necks; it should be because it is the right thing to do.

“We are talking about running an inclusive government, bringing everybody in this country together, so that we can build a nation that works for all of us.

“So, if we are talking about rotational presidency, there is nothing stopping us from having that discussion as well, because you are not just talking about Northern Christians but about the Christian faith as a whole.

“If you have a Muslim, whether he comes from the North or the South, let it be that he is representing the Muslim community. And if you have a Christian, wherever he comes from, he represents the Christian faith. That way, you achieve religious balance.

“At the end of the day, whatever the president decides, nobody who is a serving president has ever lost the party primaries. So, we assume that the president will get the party’s ticket.

“Reading down it should be because it is the right thing to be done. We’re talking about running an inclusive government. We’re trying talking about bringing everybody in this country together so they will be able to build a nation that works for all of us.

“Because you see, the truth is that when you are talking, you are not talking about just northern Christians, you are talking about the Christian faith as a whole.

“But honestly, if we’re going to do anything along those lines, it shouldn’t be that we are scared, but because, as men of it, we believe that God requires of us to do justice, and justice demands that we should balance things.

“Ultimately whatever decisions that he takes, I believe that it is up to him, but if we have overwhelming majority of our people making a case that these things should be balanced, as a democrat, I sincerely believe that he will listen to it.”