2027: Altering Muslim-Muslim ticket could cost APC northern support – Musawa

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against dropping a Northern Muslim from President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ticket, warning that such a move could weaken the party’s prospects in the 2027 general election.

Musawa made the remarks during a recent episode of Mic On Show with journalist Seun Okinbaloye, amid growing speculation that the ruling party may reconsider the Muslim-Muslim ticket it adopted in the 2023 presidential contest.

According to the minister, replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima or opting for a running mate who is not a Northern Muslim would present serious political risks for the APC, particularly in the core northern states where identity and political alignment remain highly influential.

“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 argued that politics in Northern Nigeria is deeply entrenched and requires careful understanding, warning that decisions taken without sensitivity to the region’s political dynamics could easily backfire.

“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.

Musawa dismissed suggestions that the APC could easily reshuffle its presidential ticket without electoral consequences, describing such assumptions as politically naïve.

“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 added.

On the state of the opposition ahead of the 2027 polls, the minister said she does not believe the current configuration of opposition forces poses a serious threat to President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima’s re-election bid.

She described the opposition as fragmented, noting that several prominent figures appear to be competing for the same leadership space.

“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.

While acknowledging that opposition figures remain politically active and influential, she maintained that the APC remains confident of retaining power in 2027.

“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 added that although the APC welcomes a strong opposition as part of a healthy democratic system, the party remains focused on consolidating its political base ahead of the next 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.

Atiku-Obi Ticket Can’t defeat Tinubu   

Musawa also argued that a joint presidential ticket involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi is not capable of defeating Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

She said she is convinced that an Atiku-Obi ticket is not capable of unseating Tinubu after she assessed the strengths and limitations of leading opposition figures ahead of the next electoral cycle.

While acknowledging Atiku’s political stature, the minister argued that the former vice president would still fall short against the ruling party in 2027.

“I see him as a formidable opponent,” she said. “But as much as I respect and admire him, I do not believe that Vice President Atiku Abubakar would be able to match the ruling party in 2027.”

According to Musawa, even a merger of political forces through an Atiku–Obi ticket would not significantly improve the opposition’s chances.

“I don’t think he’s a match even if Atiku and Peter come together,” she stated.

She further warned that such an arrangement could deepen divisions within the opposition, particularly among supporters of Peter Obi, many of whom may resist the idea of their preferred candidate playing a subordinate role.

“That kind of ticket is likely to upset a lot of Obidients,” Musawa said, noting that many of Obi’s supporters have been clear about their reluctance to back him as a vice-presidential candidate. “Some people will have to reconsider positions they once held.”

Musawa also suggested that reversing the roles on the ticket would be even more damaging for the opposition.

“If Peter Obi is presented as the presidential candidate instead, that would be the quickest way for the opposition to lose the election,” she said. “I say that very honestly.”