APC Leader Claims Improved Christian Support for Muslim Presidential Ticket
Farooq Aliyu, a prominent leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asserted that Christians in Nigeria are increasingly at ease with the party’s decision to field a Muslim presidential ticket, a shift that he attributes to the success of the Bola Tinubu administration following the 2023 general elections. Aliyu made these remarks during a recent appearance on Arise TV’s The Morning Show.
Addressing the impact of President Tinubu’s policies, Aliyu suggested that initial fears regarding religious marginalization have been alleviated since the administration took office. His comments coincide with Tinubu’s choice to retain Vice President Kassim Shettima as his running mate for the upcoming 2027 presidential election, a move Aliyu believes reflects the growing confidence of Nigerian voters in the party’s leadership.
Aliyu emphasized the wisdom in maintaining the current electoral ticket, stating, “The leader of our country, the president, was smart not to change the winning ticket.” He contends that Christians in Nigeria now feel significantly more secure about their status within the political landscape compared to the time of the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket launch.
The APC’s decision to run two Muslim candidates in the 2023 elections had previously drawn national backlash, with many critics voicing that such a move marginalized Christian representation in governance. “At that time, several voices were raised expressing concern about potential marginalization of Christians. Now, those concerns appear to be unfounded,” Aliyu remarked, noting that governance under Tinubu has operated without religious bias.
Aliyu reaffirmed the party’s satisfaction with keeping Shettima in the vice-presidential role, arguing that altering the ticket at this juncture could lead to unnecessary political hurdles. “It was our own decision, of course through the party leader, to keep Kassim Shettima in office now, and we are very happy that the ticket has not been tampered with,” he explained.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Aliyu expressed optimism that Nigerian voters will again rally behind the Tinubu-Shettima partnership. “We faced considerable challenges during our last campaign, yet Nigerians placed their trust in us. We hope they will extend that trust once more, even with the Muslim-Muslim ticket,” he said.
The APC’s selection of Tinubu, a Muslim from the southwest, and Shettima, a Muslim from the northeast, ignited significant debate about Nigeria’s religious diversity. Opponents, including groups like the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fraternity of Nigeria, criticized the decision as disregardful of Nigeria’s history of balancing religious representation in elections. Nonetheless, the APC defended its choices on grounds of capability and electoral strategy, ultimately securing victory in the 2023 elections, with both leaders officially taking office on May 29, 2023.
