The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has claimed that most Christians in Nigeria now support the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Yilwatda said the concerns initially expressed by Christians over the decision to field two Muslim candidates had largely eased, arguing that the Tinubu administration had shown that their voices and interests were being recognised.
He made the assertion on Monday, November 9, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to the APC chairman, engagements with Christian stakeholders have shown that many are now comfortable with the same-faith ticket.
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“Most Christians that we’ve engaged and we’ve spoken to them, they are very okay with the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“The thought and the fear of most Christians was that the Muslim-Muslim ticket may suppress their voices, but their voices are heard loud and clear now,” he said.
First Daily reports that the Muslim-Muslim ticket generated considerable controversy ahead of the 2023 presidential election, when Tinubu selected Shettima as his running mate.
Several Christian organisations and political leaders opposed the arrangement, arguing that having two Muslims occupy the country’s highest executive positions undermined religious inclusivity and national balance.
Their concerns centred on whether Christians would have adequate representation in a country with significant Christian and Muslim populations.
However, Yilwatda maintained that the experience under the Tinubu administration had eased those concerns, insisting that most Christians were now comfortable with the political arrangement.