Christian Groups Petition Trump, US Congress Over Alleged Muslim-Muslim Ticket Plan for Nigeria’s 2027 Election
A coalition of Christian and human rights organisations has petitioned United States President Donald Trump, the US Congress and diplomatic missions over the reported plan to retain the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
The groups, operating under the umbrella of the Christian Youth Alliance of Nigeria (CYAN), expressed concern that such an arrangement could pose significant challenges to Christians across the country, particularly those living in Northern Nigeria.
The petition, obtained by PulseNets and signed by the coalition’s leadership, was made available to journalists in Jos, Plateau State. In the document, the groups appealed to the international community to pay closer attention to what they described as the worsening security situation affecting Christian communities in Nigeria.
According to the coalition, “the continuation of the Muslim-Muslim ticket by President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima could further deepen religious divisions and political exclusion.”
CYAN argued that the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket adopted during the 2023 election marked a departure from Nigeria’s long-established practice of balancing the country’s highest political offices along religious lines.
The coalition also faulted the Federal Government’s policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant terrorists, insisting that individuals accused of terrorism should be prosecuted instead of being enrolled in government-backed reintegration programmes.
In the petition, the group further urged the United States government to retain Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), while recommending that any future review of the status should be based on independently verified improvements in the protection of Christian communities.
The coalition equally called for transparent investigations into attacks on Christian communities, including incidents recorded in Plateau, Benue and other affected states. It also demanded sustained humanitarian assistance for victims displaced by the violence.
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CYAN further requested an investigation into alleged foreign influence in Nigeria’s political process, claiming that certain Arab countries could be supporting efforts to retain the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
The coalition maintained that Nigeria’s religious diversity should be adequately reflected in its political leadership and urged both domestic and international stakeholders to promote fairness, inclusion and equal protection for all citizens, irrespective of their religious beliefs.
