A Northern Islamic group has called on President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his choice of running mate for the 2027 presidential election, urging him to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima in favour of a Northern Christian.
The group, known as the Concerned Northern Muslim Ummah, made the call in a Sunday statement signed by its convener, Bala Duguri.

The appeal, it said, followed extensive consultations with Islamic organisations across Northern Nigeria.

“Our group has undertaken wider consultations across the northern states with different Islamic organisations in a bid to speak with one voice over the political direction in the APC-led administration. The outcome is very encouraging,” Duguri stated.

The group argues that the principle of religious balance is essential for national cohesion, especially after the Muslim-Muslim ticket that saw Tinubu and Shettima elected in 2023.

While that decision was controversial at the time, it ultimately garnered enough support to secure victory. However, Duguri stressed that the Christian community’s support during that election must now be acknowledged.

“The sacrifices made by our fellow Christian brothers and sisters in the 2023 presidential elections, in the spirit of unity and national progress, need to be acknowledged. It’s time for Muslim political actors to make similar sacrifices,” he said.

He further appealed to all Muslim aspirants eyeing the vice-presidential slot in 2027 to “drop their ambitions for the good of the country.”

The statement called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership and President Tinubu to adopt a more inclusive approach.

“After extensive consultations across religious, ethnic, and political lines in the North, we believe the most appropriate step forward is for a Northern Christian to be selected as the Vice Presidential candidate in 2027,” Duguri said.

Though Vice President Shettima has not commented publicly on the matter, speculation has swirled in political circles that Tinubu may be under pressure to reshuffle his ticket.

Duguri concluded that the group’s recommendation was based on “genuine concern for national cohesion, democratic stability, and the continued success of Tinubu’s government.”

The National Assembly has officially withdrawn a controversial bill that sought to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, announced the decision Monday, citing “extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.”

The bill, co-sponsored by Hon. Daniel Asama Ago, aimed to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to enforce voting as a civic duty.

“From the outset, the bill was introduced with the best of intentions—to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout,” the Speaker said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi

Passed through second reading in March 2024, the bill quickly sparked debate across the country. While proponents pointed to global examples like Australia and Belgium, where compulsory voting has led to over 90% turnout, critics warned it could infringe on individual freedoms in Nigeria’s evolving democratic space.

Acknowledging these concerns, Speaker Abbas said, “Lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves, and any reform must respect individual freedoms.”

The Speaker emphasised that Nigeria’s democratic reforms must align with its societal context, stating that the withdrawal offers a chance for a deeper national conversation.

“This withdrawal will allow time for further dialogue on how best to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation that honours both our democratic ideals and the rights of our citizens,” he added.
Instead of enforcing participation, Abbas said the government would now explore non-coercive strategies to increase voter turnout, especially among the youth.

The decision marks a shift in approach from legislation to advocacy, signalling a preference for civic engagement through education and inclusion rather than obligation.

In another major career milestone, Ayra Starr has reached a total of 1 billion views on YouTube.

This impressive record sees her become the first Nigerian female artist to reach this milestone.

She joins Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, Davido, Ckay, Omah Lay, Kizz Daniel, Tekno, P-Square, Flavour, and Fireboy as the Nigerian artists to have surpassed a billion total views on YouTube.

Ayra Starr has released several hit records that have garnered millions of views on the platform, with her Grammy-nominated hit song ‘Rush’ leading the list with over 450 million views.

Rush’ is one of the most viewed Afrobeats music videos on YouTube and the biggest by a Nigerian female artist.

‘Rush’ is one of Afrobeats’ biggest exports, which recently earned her a UK platinum plaque.

The song, released in September 2022, has enjoyed commercial success in the United Kingdom, where Ayra Starr became the first Nigerian female artist to debut a solo track on the UK Official Top 100.

2025 has gotten off to a busy start for the singer, who recently released a new single titled ‘Gimme Dat’ featuring Wizkid.

The single, released on April 25, 2025, samples Wyclef Jean’s classic records ‘Diallo’ and ‘911’ featuring Mary J Blige.

Earlier in the year, she made history by winning 2 MOBO Awards, further emphasizing her status as one of Africa’s biggest global exports.

Ayra Starr also added to her Headies collection at the 17th Headies, where she won the prize for Best R&B single for her song ‘Last Heartbreak Song’ featuring Giveon.