A coalition of Christian and human rights organisations under the umbrella of the Christian Youth Alliance of Nigeria (CYAN) has petitioned United States President Donald Trump, the US Congress and members of the diplomatic community over the planned retention of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in Nigeria’s 2027 elections.

The coalition also urged the international community to investigate what it described as the involvement of some Arab countries in the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

In the petition, made available to journalists in Jos on Sunday, CYAN alleged that Christians could face “annihilation” if the same-faith presidential ticket is retained in 2027.

The petition, signed by CYAN Chairman Zariyi Yusuf Madaki, Secretary Nasiru Jagaba, Luka Binniyat, Steven Kefas, Jonathan-Ichaver, Apostle Michael Olowookere and Emmanuel Zopmal, among others, was addressed to President Trump and copied to the US Secretary of State, members of the US Senate and House of Representatives, as well as heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Nigeria.

The coalition said it was renewing its appeal for sustained US attention to what it described as the worsening security situation facing Christians in Nigeria.

It commended Washington’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), arguing that the move challenged narratives that attacks on Christian communities were merely acts of banditry.

“We commend the decision to re-designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a step whose principal value so far has been to discredit propagandists who worked to portray murdered Christians as casualties of ordinary banditry, rather than what communities on the ground know them to be: targeted religious genocide,” the petition stated.

However, the group argued that the designation had not halted the killings, citing the recent killing of at least 30 Christians in Naridon community, Kaduna State.

According to the coalition, the continued adoption of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket represents “the single gravest political threat” to the safety of Christians, particularly in northern Nigeria.

“As we write today, a political decision unfolding in Abuja threatens to entrench and consolidate the Christian genocide in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu’s retention of the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the upcoming 2027 election is, in our assessment, the single gravest political threat to the safety of Christians in Nigeria, particularly the northern region,” the petition said.

CYAN argued that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket adopted in the 2023 election departed from Nigeria’s long-standing practice of balancing the country’s two highest political offices across religious lines.

The coalition claimed the arrangement had deepened the exclusion of Christians from governance and emboldened armed groups attacking predominantly Christian communities.

It also cited a 2023 video of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, alleging that his comments reflected an intention for the Muslim-Muslim ticket to continue beyond 2023.

The petition further referenced former Minister Isa Pantami, alleging that Nigeria’s political system had elevated individuals who had made extremist statements.

The coalition criticised the Federal Government’s policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant terrorists, arguing that victims of violence had received inadequate support.

It also raised concerns over Nigeria’s lobbying efforts in Washington following the CPC redesignation, urging US lawmakers not to rely on lobbying campaigns as evidence of improvements in the protection of Christian communities.

Among its requests, CYAN urged the United States to retain Nigeria’s CPC designation until there is independently verified evidence of improved protection for 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 political leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.

The coalition further demanded the abolition of the policy of reintegrating repentant terrorists, insisting that those accused of terrorism should be prosecuted.

It also requested independent investigations into major attacks, including the Christmas 2023 killings in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Mangu in Plateau State, and the June 2025 Yelwata massacre in Benue State.

In addition, the petition called for humanitarian assistance to reach displaced Christian communities through independent channels.

CYAN also urged the United States to investigate allegations that Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were exerting influence to ensure the retention of the Muslim-Muslim ticket in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.

The coalition, however, did not provide evidence to support the allegation, which has not been independently verified.