Representing over 200 ethnic communities in Northern Nigeria, the forum warned that such a move could exacerbate religious divisions and undermine national unity. Instead, they advised President Tinubu to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima and choose a Christian running mate.
The NENF cited the 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket as a factor that strained interfaith relations and alienated Christian voters. They noted that the APC lost in several Christian-dominated states due to resentment over the ticket's perceived religious imbalance.
The forum warned that repeating the same strategy in 2027 could cost the APC more states, particularly in the Middle Belt and Northern regions with significant Christian populations. They proposed nominating a Northern Christian as Vice President to promote inclusivity and broaden the APC's appeal.
President Tinubu was urged to publicly renounce the Muslim-Muslim ticket, with the NENF describing it as a "historic chance to be the healer Nigeria needs." The forum vowed to mobilize its 20-million-strong membership to advocate for inclusive governance ahead of the 2027 polls.