within the All Progressives Congress ( APC )from the North East geopolitical zone has endorsed former speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, as President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s preferred running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
This development is seen as an attempt to strengthen the party’s ticket and foster religious balance , given Dogara’s status as a Northern Christian.
The coalition cited Dogara’s track record of inclusive leadership national appeal, and commitment to Fair representation across Nigeria’s diverse states and regions as reasons for their endorsement.
The coalition plans to dispatch a delegation to ABUJA to formerly present their recommendations to President Tinubu.
The endorsement has however sparked speculation about the potential replacement of Vice President Kashim Shetima, who hails from the same North East and a Muslim., amid growing discussions about possible adjustment to the ticket for 2027 . Yakubu Dogara has yet to make a public declaration regarding this endorsement or his potential interest in the 2027 elections.
The endorsement is part of the on going political permutations within the APC, with various stakeholders jostling for positions and potential successors to President Bola Tinubu in 2031.
The considerations of Dogara as a running mate is seen as an effort towards religious balancing, given the current Muslim-Muslim ticket and the potential benefits of a mixed ticket in appealing to a broader electorate.
AB Egbeweli sends in this reports.
