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By Oscar Okhifo
A coalition of support groups within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the North-East geo-political zone has endorsed former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, as the preferred running mate to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The endorsement was made public during a high-level meeting of the coalition held in Gombe State on Monday.
The gathering brought together APC governors, lawmakers, party stalwarts, and grassroots leaders from across the North-East zone.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, leader of the grou, Hon. Sha’abdini Bello stated that Dogara’s track record of inclusive leadership, national appeal, and his status as a Northern Christian make him the ideal choice to strengthen the party’s ticket and foster religious balance.
The coalition noted that during his tenure as Speaker of the 8th National Assembly, Dogara demonstrated an unmatched commitment to inclusivity, ensuring fair representation across Nigeria’s diverse states and regions.
“Dogara’s acceptability across religious and ethnic lines, as well as his proven leadership credentials, position him as a unifying figure that can consolidate the APC’s national support base,” the coalition stated.
The endorsement comes amid growing speculation over the possibility of President Tinubu restructuring his ticket to accommodate a Christian running mate, in a bid to appeal to a broader section of the Nigerian electorate.
Although Vice President, Kashim Shettima, hails from the North-East and is a Muslim, the coalition’s latest move suggests that political calculations ahead of 2027 may be evolving within the party.
Following the endorsement, the coalition announced plans to dispatch a delegation to Abuja to formally present their recommendation to President Tinubu.
However, Yakubu Dogara, who has been relatively silent on his political ambitions, is yet to make any public declaration regarding the 2027 presidential race.
The North-East APC zonal meeting earlier this month in Gombe ended in turbulence following the failure of the party’s National Chairman,Abdullahi Ganduje to name Shettima on Tinubu’s joint ticket in the 2027 eelection.