2027: Who Might Be Tinubu’s Next Running Mate?

Inside the APC, the 2027 conversation is slowly shifting from “Will Tinubu run again?” to a more sensitive question: who stands beside him on the ticket.

The pressure point is clear. After the Muslim-Muslim Tinubu–Shettima pairing in 2023, some party figures and pressure groups are insisting that 2027 must look more “balanced” religiously if the ruling party wants to cut through suspicion, reduce tension, and compete harder in swing zones.

Why this VP talk is resurfacing now

Reports in the Nigerian media say Tinubu is facing renewed lobbying around religious balance, especially as politicians begin to position for 2027 behind the scenes. 

One widely circulated report claims “elements” linked to the United States prefer a Muslim–Christian ticket for Tinubu’s re-election bid, an assertion that remains unverified publicly and has not been backed by any formal statement from the US government.

What is verifiable is that the running-mate question is not officially settled. Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has said Tinubu will pick his running mate after the APC convention and once INEC releases the election timetable, describing much of the current speculation as gossip.

The three names being mentioned most

A report republished by Legit.ng says the names below are being floated in some circles as possible alternatives mainly because they tick either a religious-balance box, a regional box, or both.

1) Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (Sokoto Catholic Bishop)
Kukah’s name stands out because he is a prominent Northern Christian voice with national recognition. The complication is obvious: he is a serving Catholic bishop, and even the promoters of this idea reportedly admit it is uncertain whether he would accept, or whether the Church would permit such a move into partisan politics.

2) Yakubu Dogara (former Speaker, House of Reps)
Dogara has appeared repeatedly in 2027 VP permutations in the Nigerian press, often tied to the argument that APC needs a Northern Christian figure to soften the backlash against a same-faith ticket.

3) General (rtd) Christopher Musa (Minister of Defence)
Musa’s name is also being mentioned in this latest wave of speculation. As of December 2025, Tinubu nominated and swore him in as Minister of Defence after he previously served as Chief of Defence Staff.

So, is Shettima actually being pushed out?

Two things can be true at once. First, multiple reports say the idea of dropping Shettima has been discussed in political circles since around the mid-term period of the administration.

Second, there is also reporting plus direct statements attributed to the presidency that Tinubu is not currently shopping for a replacement and that the decision will only come when the party process demands it. In other words, there is noise, but no final, official signal.

The “other” names earlier linked to the VP slot

Before the fresh push for a Muslim–Christian ticket in this new report, other names had already been drawn into the conversation, particularly Abdulaziz Yari and Nuhu Ribadu as part of the wider “if not Shettima, then who?” debate.

If Tinubu intends to run in 2027, the decisive moments will not come from rumours. They will come from:

INEC’s election timetable, APC’s convention/primary process, and the internal bargaining that follows, especially around religion, region, and coalition maths.

For now, Tinubu has not announced a 2027 running mate, and the presidency says the choice comes later.