A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Farouk Aliyu, has said the North would be uncomfortable with a Christian–Christian presidential ticket, warning that such a combination could alienate Muslim voters in the region.
Aliyu made the remarks on Friday during an interview on ARISE Television while reacting to ongoing debates over whether the ruling party should retain or alter the Muslim–Muslim ticket that produced President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in 2023.
According to him, electoral decisions must be guided by demographics, noting that Muslims constitute the majority in Northern Nigeria.
“In my opinion, the numbers will be considered when deciding whether to field a Muslim or a Christian. There is no doubt that there are more Muslims in the North. Any party may choose to field a Christian, but if you go by the numbers, it is in the party’s best interest to field a Muslim,” Aliyu said.
He cautioned that replacing a Muslim candidate with a Christian in the North could pose serious electoral challenges for the APC.
“Certainly, if you drop a Muslim for a Christian in the North, you will have a problem,” he added.
Aliyu also argued that the controversies surrounding the Muslim–Muslim ticket in the 2023 election have largely subsided, insisting that Christians are not being marginalised under the Tinubu administration.
“This government has nothing on the ground to show that it is favouring Muslims over Christians. I believe the Muslim–Muslim ticket can still work for the APC,” he said.
Responding to questions on whether the North would support a Christian–Christian presidential ticket, the APC chieftain ruled out such a possibility.
“Based on the North I know, the North will not be comfortable with a Christian–Christian ticket because it would completely alienate Muslims in the region,” Aliyu stated.
