President Bola Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election has reignited debate over the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim ticket, with political parties and stakeholders divided over whether competence or religious balance should shape leadership choices.

The renewed conversation follows the APC’s official confirmation that Tinubu and Shettima will once again contest the presidency on the party’s platform, ending months of speculation that the President might replace his deputy with a Northern Christian ahead of the next general election.

The announcement has revived a controversy that dominated political discussions before the 2023 elections when Tinubu, a Muslim from the South-West, selected Shettima, a Muslim from the North-East, as his running mate despite criticism over the same-faith ticket.

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Reacting to the development, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) urged Nigerians to focus on the competence and leadership capacity of candidates rather than their religious affiliation.

Speaking with Punch, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ejimofor Opara, said the 2027 presidential election should be determined by the ability of candidates to govern effectively.

“Competence should remain the defining issue in 2027, not whether candidates are Muslims or Christians,” he said.

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) also maintained that merit, integrity and accountability should outweigh considerations of religion or ethnicity in the selection of political leaders.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Wale Egbeola-Martins, argued that Nigeria’s major challenge has been poor governance rather than the faith of elected officials.

“The real challenge confronting our nation since the return to democratic rule has not been the ethnic or religious identity of those in power, but the persistent deficit of purposeful and accountable leadership,” he said.

He added that the YPP would continue to advocate politics driven by competence, national interest and service to the people.

The APC defended its decision to retain Shettima, insisting that the choice was made after careful consideration of national interest and prevailing political realities.

The party’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the leadership assessed all relevant factors before confirming the Tinubu-Shettima ticket for the 2027 election.

“The decision was reached after a careful assessment of the situation. The party is conscious of religious sensitivities but is also mindful of the broader interests of Nigerians,” Ibrahim said.

He dismissed suggestions that the same-faith ticket could deepen religious divisions, arguing that the Tinubu administration had continued to promote peaceful coexistence among citizens regardless of religious background.

The National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yabagi Yusuf, said the APC’s decision was primarily a political calculation aimed at maximising its electoral prospects.

According to him, political parties generally select candidates they believe offer the strongest chance of victory at the polls.

“It’s politics. They must have done their calculations and concluded that this is their best chance of winning. In the end, elections are about where the votes are,” Yusuf stated.

He noted that while religion remains part of Nigeria’s political discourse, electoral strength and public acceptance often carry greater weight in determining party tickets.

A former National Publicity Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Mark Adebayo, believes the same-faith ticket is unlikely to dominate political debate in 2027 as it did four years earlier.

According to him, Nigerians are expected to focus more on pressing national issues, including insecurity, economic hardship and the performance of the current administration.

“I do not think the Muslim-Muslim ticket will generate the same level of traction in 2027 as it did in 2023. The next election will be driven more by security, the economy and the government’s performance,” Adebayo said.

The President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Jonathan Lokpobiri, also called on Nigerians to prioritise competence over religious considerations when evaluating political leaders.

He said the country requires leaders capable of making difficult decisions and improving the welfare of citizens.

“What we need is a competent, focused and compassionate leader who can take difficult decisions and improve the lives of Nigerians. Religion should not be the yardstick for leadership,” Lokpobiri said.

Before the APC formally unveiled the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, several prominent figures—including the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara—had been speculated as possible replacements for Shettima.

With the ruling party now confirming the continuation of the Tinubu-Shettima partnership, attention is expected to shift toward policy debates and campaign strategies as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.