A coalition of Christian and human rights groups has written to United States President Donald Trump, the US Congress and foreign diplomatic missions over the reported plan to retain the APC’s Muslim Muslim presidential ticket for the 2027 general election.

The groups, under the umbrella of the Christian Youth Alliance of Nigeria, CYAN, said the arrangement could worsen the challenges facing Christians, especially those living in Northern Nigeria.

In a petition signed by the group’s leaders and released to journalists in Jos, Plateau State, CYAN called on the international community to pay closer attention to the security situation affecting Christian communities across Nigeria.

The coalition said keeping President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on another Muslim Muslim ticket could increase religious division and leave many Christians feeling excluded from the country’s political leadership.

According to the group, Nigeria has traditionally balanced its top political positions by choosing candidates from different religious backgrounds, and the 2023 APC ticket departed from that practice.

CYAN also criticised the Federal Government’s policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant terrorists. The group argued that people involved in terrorism should be prosecuted and punished instead of being rehabilitated through government programmes.

The coalition urged the United States government to keep Nigeria on its list of Countries of Particular Concern, CPC, until there is clear and independently verified evidence that Christian communities are receiving better protection.

The petition also called for transparent investigations into attacks on Christian communities in Plateau, Benue and other parts of the country. It further requested continued humanitarian assistance for people displaced by violence.

In addition, CYAN asked for an investigation into claims of foreign involvement in Nigeria’s political process. The group alleged that some Arab countries could be supporting efforts to retain the Muslim Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The coalition stressed that Nigeria’s religious diversity should be reflected in its political leadership. It called on both Nigerian authorities and the international community to promote fairness, inclusion and equal protection for all citizens, regardless of their religion.