Kwankwaso Rejects Another Muslim Muslim Ticket Ahead of 2027 Election

(President Bola Tinubu And Rabiu Kwankwaso. Photo Credit: Naija News)

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has kicked against the idea of another Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that Nigeria’s diverse religious composition makes a balanced ticket more suitable for national unity and inclusiveness.

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) made these remarks while featuring on a television political programme on Monday, where he also dismissed allegations linking him to religious extremism and expressed confidence that the NDC presidential ticket would emerge victorious in the next election.

Kwankwaso said the political mood across the country, particularly among young Nigerians, indicates that citizens are more concerned about their daily struggles than issues of ethnicity or religion, adding that many Nigerians are demanding leadership capable of tackling insecurity, economic hardship and unemployment.

He maintained that the electorate is increasingly focused on practical solutions that can improve living standards, noting that people are tired of their current situation and want something new that can genuinely improve their security and welfare.

The former governor argued that critics of the NDC alliance do not fully understand the realities confronting people in northern Nigeria, insisting that many residents of the region are more interested in effective governance than political narratives built around religious and ethnic identities, and that those opposing the ticket are simply out of touch with current realities in the North.

He also addressed reports surrounding a proposed bill in the United States allegedly linking his name to claims of religious persecution and communal violence, denying any wrongdoing and describing the matter as politically motivated.

He said attempts had been made by opponents to tarnish his image, though the allegations failed to gain traction, stressing that he holds no assets anywhere outside Nigeria, so there was nothing to freeze.

He added that those behind the allegations were driven by political interests rather than facts, noting that everyone has enemies and that people had spread his name around, but that the matter has since died down and is no longer an issue.

Asked whether he believed his name had been cleared, he responded that he believed so.

Speaking on preparations for the 2027 election, the NDC chieftain said religion is likely to remain a major topic in political discourse, adding that he was surprised President Bola Tinubu appears to be considering another Muslim-Muslim ticket for the next election cycle.

Kwankwaso argued that Nigeria’s political leadership should reflect the country’s religious diversity, acknowledging that there is nothing inherently wrong with candidates of the same faith running together, but maintaining that a balanced ticket promotes inclusiveness and reassures different segments of the population.

He said President Tinubu has a history of balancing political interests and appointments and should apply the same approach in choosing a running mate, adding that there is still time before the substitution deadline for him to achieve a balanced ticket.

The former governor cited his own experience during the 2023 election, explaining that he deliberately picked a Christian cleric as his running mate to ensure wider representation, so that everyone would feel a sense of belonging.

He also referenced the 1993 Social Democratic Party presidential ticket of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and Babagana Kingibe, noting that political discussions at the time centred largely on competence and popularity rather than religion.

On concerns that ongoing legal disputes involving the NDC could affect its participation in the 2027 general election, Kwankwaso expressed confidence that the courts would not stop the party from contesting, adding that the judiciary would uphold democratic principles and allow voters to decide the fate of political parties at the ballot box.

He said he did not believe any respected judge would be in a hurry to bar the NDC from participating in the 2027 election.