- APC chieftain warns against replacing Muslim VP with Christian northerner
- Says Northern voting strength must guide 2027 ticket decisions
- Claims backlash over Muslim–Muslim ticket has faded
- Insists Tinubu’s government is not favouring any religion
A leading figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Farouk Aliyu, has warned that replacing a Muslim vice-presidential candidate with a Christian northerner in 2027 could create serious political problems for the ruling party, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
Farouk Aliyu, an influential APC chieftain, has advised the party against abandoning the Muslim–Muslim ticket that produced President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2023 general election.
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Speaking on ARISE Television on Friday, Aliyu said political realities and voter demographics in the North must be carefully considered before any changes are made ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, replacing a Muslim candidate with a Christian from the North would alienate a significant portion of voters and weaken the APC’s electoral chances in the region.
“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 stated.
He stressed that religion remains a sensitive factor in Northern politics and warned that sidelining Muslim representation could trigger resistance.
“Certainly, if you drop a Muslim for a Christian in the North, you’ll have a problem,” he added.
Aliyu also dismissed claims that Christians have been marginalised under the current administration, saying the controversy surrounding the Muslim–Muslim ticket during the 2023 election has largely died down.
“This government has got nothing to show on the ground that it’s favouring Muslims over Christians,” he said.
Based on this, the APC chieftain maintained that the party could still succeed with a similar ticket arrangement in the next presidential race.
“So, I think the Muslim–Muslim ticket can still fly with the APC,” Aliyu concluded.