Nigerian Christians have embraced Muslim-Muslim ticket, says APC chairman

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that most Nigerian Christians have embraced the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and are comfortable with the arrangement.

Mr Yilwatda stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday.

He dismissed concerns that the religious composition of President Bola Tinubu’s administration could marginalise Christians, saying those who initially feared the arrangement would suppress their voices had since realised that they were still represented.

“Most Christians that we’ve engaged and we’ve spoken to them, they are very okay with the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“The thought and the fear of most Christians was that the Muslim-Muslim ticket may suppress their voices, but their voices are heard loud and clear now,” he said.

The APC chairman also dismissed concerns that Mr Tinubu’s religion had exposed Christians to discrimination or persecution since he assumed office in May 2023.

On concerns about the President’s health and fitness to seek re-election in 2027, Mr Yilwatda maintained that Mr Tinubu was physically capable of contesting.

He also defended the President’s absence from some campaign rallies, arguing that his constitutional responsibilities would not allow him to attend every party engagement.

According to him, some government officials had been advised to attend selected rallies to ensure that governance was not disrupted by campaign activities.

On the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mr Yilwatda denied allegations that the APC was behind the party’s internal dispute.

The crisis followed a Federal High Court judgment invalidating the leadership of the party led by former Senate President David Mark.