By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has reacted to growing speculation that he may replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Dogara, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, urged Nigerians and political commentators to exclude him from the ongoing discussions, stressing that national interest—not personal ambition or political pressure—should guide decisions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His comments come amid renewed debate over whether the APC will again present a Muslim–Muslim ticket in 2027 or opt for a religiously balanced pairing.
“I would have sincerely pleaded with you to leave me out of this,” Dogara said, reacting to questions about the rumoured shake-up of the presidential ticket. “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.”
Call for Inclusive Governance
The former Speaker emphasised that Nigeria’s diversity must be reflected at the highest levels of leadership, arguing that governance should unite rather than alienate any segment of the population.
According to Dogara, discussions around power rotation and religious balance should not be reduced to regional sentiments alone but seen from a broader national and faith-based perspective.
“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,” he said.
He added that rotational leadership remains a legitimate subject for national discourse, noting that concerns go beyond Northern Christians to include the Christian faith across the country.
“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,” Dogara explained.
2027 Ticket Still an Open Discussion
While distancing himself from any personal ambition, Dogara acknowledged that conversations around the composition of the 2027 presidential ticket are already taking place within political circles.
On the possibility of a Christian emerging as Tinubu’s running mate, he described it as an ongoing discussion rather than a settled decision.
“It’s a discussion, and I am aware that such discussions are already taking place,” he said.
However, Dogara also pointed out the political reality that incumbent presidents traditionally retain firm control over their party’s ticket.
“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,” he added.
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