National President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
According to The PUNCH, Bitrus said the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s decision to maintain its Muslim-Muslim ticket could raise concerns among Christian Nigerians and undermine efforts to promote national unity.
He argued that retaining the same religious pairing after the 2023 election sends the wrong message in a religiously diverse country such as Nigeria.
“To retain a Muslim-Muslim ticket after 2023 sends the wrong signal in a country as religiously diverse as Nigeria,” Bitrus said.
The Middle Belt Forum president urged the APC to reconsider the decision, stressing that political leaders should take into account the concerns of different sections of the country in order to promote fairness, inclusiveness and strengthen national unity and public trust.
