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The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has questioned calls for the adoption of another Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2027 general election.

Kwankwaso, who reacted to comments by Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Jingir, sarcastically noted that President Bola Tinubu already operates what he described as a “Muslim-Christian ticket” in his home.
Jingir had urged Nigerian Muslims to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 election.

Speaking in Kano, the cleric said he was prepared to support another Muslim-Muslim pairing, as he did during the 2023 presidential election.
“I am one of those who raise the flag of Islam. I am calling on people to come and let us do Muslim-Muslim again,” Jingir said.

“I know this statement pains the unbelievers. I am a Muslim who preaches Islam. If I say Muslim-Muslim, what have I taken away from them?”
Kwankwaso’s Response
Reacting in an interview with DCL Hausa, Kwankwaso described Tinubu as a politician who values balance and fairness, particularly with reference to his political record as governor of Lagos State.

“I know His Excellency Bola Tinubu is a man who values balance and fairness. For all the governors he supported in Lagos, he ensured a Muslim-Christian or Christian-Muslim ticket. Even when he was the governor of Lagos, all his deputies were Christians,” Kwankwaso said.
He added sarcastically: “Even in his own home, he practises a Muslim-Christian ticket ‘in the other room’ — Tinubu/Remi.”

The remark was a reference to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, a Christian and pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Background
The APC’s decision to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election, with Tinubu as its presidential candidate and Kashim Shettima as his running mate, generated intense debate across the country.

Critics argued that the arrangement undermined Nigeria’s tradition of religious balancing in political leadership, while supporters maintained that competence should take precedence over religious considerations.
With political realignments already gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 general election, the question of religious balancing is expected to remain a major issue for the APC and opposition parties.

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The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma; Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo and Kogi Governor, Ahmed Usman, have arrived in Osogbo for the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally.

Ondo Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and member of the House of Representatives representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, have also arrived for the mega rally scheduled for Thursday.

The high-profile political gathering is part of the APC’s final mobilisation efforts for its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The arrival of the party’s senior leaders and governors is expected to further energise the APC campaign as the party intensifies its grassroots mobilisation across the state.

The mega rally, coming on the final day of the official campaign period, is expected to attract APC leaders, supporters, campaign coordinators and members from across the 30 local government areas of Osun.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed August 13 as the deadline for campaigns ahead of the election, following the adjustment of the poll date from August 8 to 15.

The APC leadership is using the final stretch of the campaign to consolidate support for Mr Oyebamiji, who emerged as the party’s candidate after its governorship primary held in Osogbo.

It was gathered that the visiting governors and other APC leaders had also commenced engagements with party members and supporters, including indigenes of their respective states resident in Osun, as part of efforts to mobilise additional support for the party’s candidate.

The mobilisation is expected to complement the APC’s existing grassroots structures across the state as the party seeks to translate its campaign activities into votes for Mr Oyebamiji on Saturday.

Mr Oyebamiji, a former managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has been campaigning on the platform of the APC and repeatedly called on voters to support his bid to return the state to development.

The mega rally is expected to serve as the APC’s major show of strength before the campaign window closes at midnight on Thursday.

With the election only days away, the APC is seeking to consolidate its support base, reach undecided voters and strengthen its mobilisation machinery ahead of the poll.

(NAN)

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cried out over an alleged plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

The party, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it had received what it described as “credible reports” of moves to arrest the former Osun State governor in the days leading to the poll.

The ADC expressed concern that such an action could be intended to disrupt its campaign and election-day activities, particularly Aregbesola’s role in coordinating the party’s efforts.

“Given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of this government towards the opposition, we cannot afford to dismiss these reports,” Abdullahi said.

Aregbesola, who governed Osun between 2010 and 2018 and later served as Minister of the Interior, is currently the national secretary of the opposition party.

The ADC expressed concern that such an action could be intended to disrupt its campaign and election-day activities, particularly Aregbesola’s role in coordinating the party’s efforts.

The ADC said any invitation by security agencies should follow due process, given Aregbesola’s political status and previous public offices.

“Ogbeni Aregbesola is a former Governor of Osun State, a former Minister of the Federal Republic and the National Secretary of the opposition political party. If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” the party said.

It warned that arresting him shortly before the election could be interpreted as an attempt to weaken the party’s participation in the poll.

“An arrest on the eve of an election in which his party is participating would invite only one reasonable conclusion: that the purpose is to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities,” the statement added.

The opposition party consequently urged the Federal Government and security agencies to avoid actions capable of undermining the credibility of the election.

“The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said, urging authorities to uphold democratic principles.

“Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now.”

The ADC also called on the APC-led Federal Government to avoid measures that could heighten political tension in the state.

“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” Abdullahi said.