A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Farouk Aliyu, has warned that replacing a Muslim northerner with a Christian as vice-presidential candidate in the 2027 elections could create serious political challenges for the ruling party, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
Aliyu made the statement on Friday while commenting on the ongoing debate within the APC over whether the party should retain or adjust the Muslim–Muslim ticket that produced President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2023 general election.
According to him, electoral considerations and demographic realities in the North would be central to any decision on future ticket arrangements. He stressed that Muslims constitute a significant majority of voters in the region, making religious balance a sensitive issue with far-reaching political implications.
“In my opinion, the numbers will be looked at in deciding whether to field a Muslim or a Christian; the numbers are there to show,” Aliyu said.
The former lawmaker cautioned that dropping a Muslim candidate in favour of a Christian from the North could alienate a large segment of the party’s traditional support base. “Certainly, if you drop a Muslim for a Christian in the North, you’ll have a problem,” he stated.
Aliyu also argued that the backlash generated by the Muslim–Muslim ticket during the 2023 elections has largely diminished. He noted that there is no concrete evidence to suggest that Christians are being marginalised under the current administration.
According to him, the Tinubu-led government has not demonstrated any form of religious bias in governance or appointments. He maintained that the administration’s actions do not show favouritism toward Muslims over Christians.
Aliyu concluded that, based on prevailing political realities and voter demographics, the Muslim–Muslim ticket remains a viable option for the APC as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
