By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
A coalition of Christian groups and human rights advocates drawn from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory has petitioned United States President Donald Trump, the US Congress and diplomatic missions, urging international attention to what it described as the implications of retaining a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.
The petition, submitted by the Christian Youth Alliance of Nigeria (CYAN), was made available to journalists in Jos on Sunday. It was signed by the group’s Chairman, Zariyi Yusuf Madaki; Secretary, Nasiru Jagaba; Luka Binniyat; Steven Kefas; Ier Jonathan-Ichaver; Apostle Michael Olowookere; Emmanuel Zopmal and others. Copies were addressed to President Trump, the US Secretary of State, members of the US Senate and House of Representatives, as well as heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Nigeria.
In the petition, the coalition said it was renewing its appeal for sustained American attention to what it described as the deteriorating security situation facing Christians in Nigeria. It commended the United States for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), saying the move had helped draw international attention to attacks on Christian communities, although it argued that the designation had not halted the violence.
The group cited the recent killing of at least 30 Christians in Naridon community of Kaduna State and alleged that the continuation of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2027 would further worsen the situation. According to the coalition, President Bola Tinubu’s decision to retain a same-faith ticket represents “the single gravest political threat to the safety of Christians in Nigeria,” particularly in the northern part of the country.
CYAN argued that the 2023 Tinubu-Shettima ticket departed from what it described as Nigeria’s long-standing tradition of balancing the offices of President and Vice President along religious lines. It claimed the arrangement had contributed to the exclusion of Christians from governance and emboldened extremist groups operating in predominantly Christian communities. The petition also referenced a 2023 video of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that remarks attributed to him reflected a political mindset the coalition believes should be rejected. It further criticised the government’s policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant terrorists, arguing that those responsible for acts of terrorism should instead be prosecuted.
The coalition also expressed concern over Nigeria’s engagement of international lobbying firms in Washington following the CPC redesignation. It cited filings under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), alleging that a Kaduna-based law firm, Aster Legal, acting on behalf of the Office of the National Security Adviser, retained Washington public affairs firm DCI Group under a reported $9 million contract to project Nigeria’s record on protecting Christian communities. While acknowledging Nigeria’s right to defend its international image, the group urged US authorities not to allow lobbying efforts to replace independent verification of conditions on the ground.
Among its requests, the coalition urged the United States to maintain Nigeria’s CPC designation until there is independently verified improvement in the protection of Christian communities.
It also called on the US Congress and the State Department to encourage Nigeria to reflect the country’s religious diversity in its leadership, abolish the policy of reintegrating repentant militants, and ensure transparent, independently monitored investigations into major attacks, including the Christmas 2023 killings in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Mangu in Plateau State, as well as the June 2025 Yelwata massacre in Benue State.
