Minister warns: Dropping Northern Muslim from presidential ticket could hurt APC in 2027

Musawa

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has warned that the All Progressives Congress risks undermining its chances in the 2027 general election if it drops a Northern Muslim from President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ticket.

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

According to the minister, removing Shettima or replacing him with a non-Northern Muslim running mate would pose a serious political challenge for the APC, particularly in the core northern states.

“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 stressed that politics in Northern Nigeria is deeply rooted and highly sophisticated, warning that decisions taken without proper understanding of the region could 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 claims that the APC could easily reshuffle its presidential ticket without consequences, describing such assumptions as politically naive. Punch