The Presidency has declared that the once-contentious Muslim-Muslim ticket, which secured victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2023 general elections, has ceased to be a polarizing issue in Nigeria’s political discourse.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, asserted that earlier apprehensions—particularly around religious imbalance—have been conclusively laid to rest.
“Christians are living freely and practicing their faith without interference. The President even attended the Pope’s inauguration in Rome. There’s no cause for alarm,” Onanuga said, emphasizing that Nigeria has moved past the divisive rhetoric.
He added that many of the individuals being floated as potential candidates for running mate slots in 2027 are Muslims, indicating that the religious configuration is no longer a factor of national anxiety.
In a related development, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cautioned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Tinubu against any attempt to replace Vice President Shettima in the buildup to the 2027 elections.
Professor Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of MURIC, in a statement issued on Thursday, warned that any plan to drop Shettima would be politically ill-considered and potentially divisive.
The evolving narrative suggests that religion may no longer dominate political calculations as Nigeria heads toward another electoral cycle, with performance and strategy now taking center stage.
