APC’s Endorsement of Tinubu/Shettima Ticket Flops in Northern Nigeria

 By Chukwuebuka Chukwuemeka

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR

A recent move by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to galvanize support for the Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima presidential ticket in Northern Nigeria has dramatically backfired, triggering protests and deepening internal divisions along religious lines.

Backlash in the North

Efforts to stage high-profile endorsement events across Northern states were met not with applause but with ridicule—highlighted by a viral incident dubbed the “fake bishops fiasco.” During a July 2022 rally—when Tinubu formally unveiled Shettima as his running mate—several individuals masquerading as Christian clerics took the stage. They were swiftly exposed as impostors by genuine church officials. The embarrassing spectacle undermined the campaign’s credibility and sparked outrage among Northern Christians and moderate Muslims alike says theafricareport.com.

Faith Faultlines Resurface

Northern Christian leaders, already uneasy about the APC’s adoption of a Muslim/Muslim ticket, seized on the fiasco as evidence of insincerity. They accused the party of staging endorsements and manipulating religious sentiment. That moment crystallized broader Christian disillusionment, with many vocalizing fears that the ticket did not genuinely represent their interests.                                              

Lingering Campaign Damage

Political analysts suggest that the fallout from the “fake bishops” affair had long-lasting effects. In the ensuing months, patronage networks frayed and campaign events in Christian-majority Northern localities drew lower-than-expected attendance. The endorsement gambit, intended to unify the party, instead illuminated its internal fractures—especially across faith and regional lines.

Vice President Kashim Shettima

What This Means Now

As the Tinubu/Shettima administration nears its two-year mark, the echoes of this early campaign blunder remain audible in its Northern support base. Grassroots sentiments suggest that trust in APC leadership among Christians in the North remains frail. While this may not be decisive, it signals potential vulnerabilities in future votes, particularly in tightly contested states.

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Editor's note: This article revisits the now-infamous “fake bishops” incident as a critical moment in how religious representation and political authenticity are perceived within Northern Nigeria.