Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke Afa, Lagos, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) could face serious political consequences if President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima run on the same ticket in the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Friday, May 22, issued through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, and obtained by AfricaGolbalTimes, Ayodele warned that a repeat of the Muslim-Muslim ticket would face strong opposition both within Nigeria and internationally.
‘APC may face crisis’ – Ayodele The preacher described the move as ‘political self-murder’ for the president and the APC, arguing that it could weaken the party’s chances of retaining the presidency.
“It will be a political self-murder for Tinubu and Shettima to be on the same ticket for the 2027 presidential election. Tinubu should see it as an end for the APC as a party because people will stand against it.”
Furthermore, Ayodele claimed that even within religious circles, the arrangement would face resistance, adding that it would trigger broader political tensions.
“Even Muslims and natural forces in Nigeria will go against it. Such a ticket will attract national and international struggles for the president, and this will limit the chances of the APC retaining victory in 2027.”
He also cautioned that replacing Shettima as running mate would create a different set of political challenges for Tinubu, placing the president in a difficult position.
Ayodele added: “Also, not picking Shettima will cost Tinubu a lot; it will cost him what he doesn’t expect, and he will be confused.”
According to Ayodele, the current administration’s Muslim-Muslim ticket was a foundational political error that would be difficult to correct, warning that governance challenges would persist.
He said: “The government is an error right from the moment they decided to do a Muslim-Muslim ticket, and it will be hard to correct… It will be hard for the president; only God can show him mercy.”
