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2027: Muslim-Muslim Ticket Will Remain An Issue For Tinubu, Says Kwankwaso
The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Rabiu Kwankwaso, says he is surprised that President Bola Tinubu has opted to retain a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the next presidential election despite the controversy that trailed the arrangement in 2023.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Kwankwaso said the issue would remain a major factor in the next election.
Asked whether the same-faith ticket would still be an issue in 2027, the former Kano State governor replied, “It has to be.”
Expressing surprise at the President’s decision, Kwankwaso said, “I am even surprised that the President again is presenting the same type of ticket, and I know him; he is always somebody who likes to balance things.
“If you look at Lagos, he has always balanced it; even in his home, the ticket is balanced. I don’t know why the ticket in Nigeria is not balanced. But he still has time from now till the time of substitution to have a balanced ticket.”
Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu, a Muslim, selected former Borno State governor Kashim Shettima, also a Muslim, as his running mate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The decision sparked widespread debate, with many Nigerians arguing that it undermined the religious balance needed in a country with almost equal numbers of Muslims and Christians.
Although Tinubu went on to win the election, the controversy surrounding the same-faith ticket has persisted, particularly after the President recently announced that he would retain Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 election.
Kwankwaso, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), is now running as Peter Obi’s vice-presidential candidate under the NDC for the 2027 election.
Explaining his decision to team up with the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Kwankwaso said time had given him a better understanding of Obi’s personality and leadership qualities.
“I believe I know much more than I knew before the 2023 elections. Now I know that Peter is a very serious politician. He has this country in mind. He is somebody that one can rely on and so on and so forth,” Kwankwaso said.
He added that it was easy for both men to reach an agreement because they share similar ideas on how to move the country forward.
Asked why Nigerians should vote for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket in 2027, the former governor said the pair have solutions to the numerous challenges confronting the country, particularly insecurity.
“Our main concern today is the security in the country. You could see that in recent years the insecurity, mainly in the North-East, moved into the North-West, North-Central; now it is migrating into the southern part of the country, which is most unfortunate.
“Now, collectively, we believe that as determined people who have enough energy, as people who are confident and, of course, capable of handling issues, the first issue we believe we should tackle is the issue of insecurity in the country,” he said.
Beyond insecurity, Kwankwaso said he and Obi were determined to address economic challenges, decaying infrastructure and the education sector, stressing that no nation can achieve meaningful development without investing in the education of its people.
He also dismissed claims that Obi lacks popularity in northern Nigeria and would struggle to attract votes from the region, insisting that the NDC presidential candidate is well-grounded in the North and has demonstrated significant electoral strength there in previous elections.
By Prosper Olayiwola
A House of Assembly Candidate for Ikole Constituency 1 on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kayode Arewa Sanni, has called on his constituents, party members and supporters to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Arewa Sanni made the call in Ikole-Ekiti while addressing party faithful and supporters at a stakeholders’ meeting convened to strengthen grassroots mobilisation in the constituency.
He said the 2027 elections present a defining moment for the people of Ikole Constituency 1 to chart a new course of inclusive representation, people-oriented legislation and accelerated development.
The candidate noted that disunity among party members and supporters remains the greatest obstacle to victory, stressing that only a united front can dislodge entrenched interests and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
“I appeal to all our party leaders, members, supporters and well-wishers across Ikole Constituency 1 to put aside personal differences and work together as one family. Our strength lies in our unity,” he said.
Arewa Sanni said his candidacy was driven by a desire to give Ikole Constituency 1 a vibrant and responsive voice in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, with focus on youth empowerment, education, healthcare and rural infrastructure.
He assured constituents that if given the mandate, he would prioritise quality representation and ensure that government presence is felt in all communities within the constituency.
He also called on supporters of the ADC across Ekiti State to rally behind the party’s vision of good governance, transparency and accountability as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.
The aspirant expressed confidence that with unity, commitment and collective effort, the ADC would emerge victorious in Ikole Constituency 1 and other constituencies across the state.
No fewer than six inmates have died within one week following a suspected cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Maximum Prison in Kano State.
Amnesty International raised the alarm in a post on its official Facebook page, calling on authorities to immediately declare an emergency at the correctional facility.
Amnesty said several other inmates were currently receiving treatment, warning that the death toll could be higher as the suspected disease continues to spread among prisoners.
It urged the authorities to immediately transfer critically ill inmates to hospitals for proper medical attention to prevent further deaths.
The organisation warned that failure to urgently intervene could amount to arbitrary deprivation of life, which it described as a serious human rights violation under international law.
Amnesty also expressed concern over the broader conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities, particularly the prolonged detention of inmates awaiting trial.
According to the organisation, detainees without financial means face greater difficulty having their rights protected, with some spending years in custody without being convicted of any crime.
It further said many inmates were being held in overcrowded and unhygienic cells without adequate food and healthcare.
Amnesty called for urgent reforms to improve conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities and ensure compliance with international best practices.
Popular media personality and self-acclaimed relationship expert, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has reportedly lost her second son while remanded in custody.
The development was confirmed in an online appeal by Amira Agiye, head of the Isaamira Love Foundation, who spoke on Okoro’s behalf to request public financial assistance.
She said, “It is sad to announce to you all that Blessing CEO just lost her second son. My name is Amira Agiye.
“I’m here to appeal on behalf of Blessing CEO, who is currently in custody. I understand that people might have different opinions about her and the circumstances surrounding her case.
“And like every one of us, she deserves compassion and an opportunity for redemption.
She needs N20 million to meet the bail requirements. She also needs N36 million to pay the people she owes who brought the case against her.
“Please, Nigerians, let’s forgive her for the sake of that boy who is still in the mortuary. With Blessing’s full consent and authorisation, I’m appealing to all Nigerians to help donate so we can help her out of this situation.”
Also speaking in a voice conversation played by Amira, Blessing, CEO, said, “My second son, Bryan, was full of life. While in custody, I lost Bryan.
I pray this turns out positive so I can leave this place, pick up the pieces of my life and pay my respects to him.”
Recall that the self-acclaimed relationship expert was remanded in Kirikiri Prison over an N69.15 million property fraud trial.
She was granted N20 million bail in July 2026, with two sureties in like sum, and each surety was required to provide three years’ proof of deposits valued at N20 million.
Following her inability to meet the bail conditions, Blessing CEO, remains in prison facility two months after she was granted bail.
House of Assembly Candidate, Sanni Urges Unity Among Ekiti ADC Members
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