Cleric urges parties to avoid same-faith tickets in Kaduna, Plateau

A prominent Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Haliru Maraya, has urged political parties to avoid fielding governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the same faith in Kaduna, Plateau and other religiously diverse states ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The cleric argued that balancing governorship tickets along religious lines would promote inclusiveness, strengthen unity and foster peaceful coexistence among the country’s diverse ethnic and religious groups.

Speaking with journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday, Maraya said the tradition of presenting governorship candidates and running mates from different faiths, which Kaduna practised between 1999 and 2019, fostered a sense of belonging among residents and contributed to political stability.

He said, “Since 1999, Kaduna State has always produced candidates with different religious beliefs. That display of justice has gone a long way in ensuring togetherness and a sense of belonging in the state, to the extent that no section or religion has felt neglected in the affairs of government.

“During the administrations of Ahmed Makarfi, Namadi Sambo, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa and Ramalan Yero, the deputy governors professed different religions from their principals. That spirit of justice ensured orderliness and gave everyone a sense of belonging.”

According to him, the administrations also recorded significant achievements in infrastructure development, particularly the construction of rural roads and other social amenities across several local government areas of the state.

Maraya, who served as Special Adviser on Islamic Matters to the late Governor Patrick Yakowa and former Governor Ramalan Yero, faulted the introduction of a same-faith governorship ticket under the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying many residents viewed the arrangement as inconsistent with the principles of equity and fairness.

“For equity and fairness, political parties should ensure that their governorship and deputy governorship candidates are of different religious beliefs. This will go a long way in uniting us and ensuring equal representation in governance,” he said.

He stressed that Kaduna’s religious diversity made it imperative for political parties to adopt inclusive leadership arrangements capable of inspiring confidence among adherents of both Islam and Christianity.

“The two major religions have a great number of followers in the state. Things should be done to carry everyone along so that together we can achieve peace, unity and progress in whatever we plan to do as a people,” he added.

The cleric also extended the advice to Plateau State, saying adopting a similar approach would strengthen peaceful coexistence among its diverse religious communities.

“The two religions preach peace. Peace should remain the focal point in all that we do for the overall progress and development of society. What is good for the followers of one religion should also be extended to the other because we are all human beings with the same feelings and aspirations,” he said.

Quoting renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Ibn Taymiyyah, Maraya said, “Verily, Allah helps a state that is just, even if it is under unbelievers, but He does not help a state that is unjust, even if it is under believers.”

He explained that the quotation underscored the importance of justice in governance, insisting that fairness, rather than the religious affiliation of leaders, was the foundation of successful government.

Maraya further urged politicians seeking governorship positions in heterogeneous states to emulate Nasarawa and Taraba states, where the governors and their deputies are of different faiths.

According to him, the arrangement in the two states has helped to promote unity, inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence among their diverse populations.

The PidomNigeria reports that Kaduna is one of Nigeria’s most religiously and ethnically diverse states, with Muslims and Christians constituting significant proportions of its population.

Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, successive administrations largely maintained Muslim-Christian governorship tickets until 2019, when the All Progressives Congress, under former Governor El-Rufai, presented a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

The decision generated widespread debate over inclusiveness, power-sharing and representation in the state, with similar discussions expected to feature prominently ahead of the 2027 elections.