A federal minister has cautioned the All Progressives Congress that changing the composition of President Bola Tinubu’s ticket by removing a Northern Muslim could seriously damage the party’s prospects in the 2027 general election.
Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, issued the warning during an appearance on Mic On Show hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, in an episode seen by FIRST DAILY on Sunday, January 25.
Her comments come as speculation mounts that the ruling party might reconsider the Muslim-Muslim ticket that helped it win the 2023 presidential election.
The minister argued that excluding Vice President Kashim Shettima or choosing a running mate who isn’t a Muslim from Northern Nigeria would create significant political difficulties for the APC, especially in northern strongholds.
“If there is no Hausa, Fulani or Kanuri Muslim on that ticket, it creates a hurdle. That is the reality of the way people think,” Musawa said.
She emphasised that Northern Nigeria has a deeply entrenched and sophisticated political culture, cautioning that making changes without fully grasping regional dynamics could prove costly for the party.
“The core North, states like Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto, understands politics at a very deep level.
“Politics there is a way of life. People wait every four years to line up and vote because that is where they feel they have influence,” she said.
The minister rejected suggestions that the APC could simply alter its presidential ticket arrangement without facing consequences, calling such thinking politically shortsighted.
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“I think if we toy with changing the construct of what we have now, it is a problem. People who suggest otherwise may not fully understand how politics works in the North,” she said.
Turning to the opposition’s preparations for 2027, Musawa expressed confidence that the current lineup of opposition parties and figures poses little threat to unseating President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.
She characterised the opposition as disorganised and overcrowded, with too many prominent politicians fighting for the top position.
“You have an opposition that is overcrowded. Every single member is vying for the same spot, and that alone creates a recipe for political failure,” Musawa said.
Despite recognising that opposition politicians remain influential and actively organising, the minister maintained that the APC is assured of victory in the next election.
“We are not taking anybody lightly. But as the opposition is emerging now, I do not see how they can unseat President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima,” she said.
Musawa concluded by noting that whilst the APC supports having a robust opposition for the health of Nigeria’s democracy, the ruling party is concentrating on strengthening its position before the upcoming election.
“It is good for democracy to have opposition. Nobody wants a one-party state. But we are confident in our political direction,” she said.