Minister Hannatu Musawa warns APC against removing a Northern Muslim from the presidential ticket, citing political risks ahead of 2027 elections
Minister of Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against removing a Northern Muslim candidate from the party’s presidential ticket, warning of potential political setbacks in the lead-up to the 2027 general election.
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Musawa made the statement on a recent episode of the “Mic On” podcast hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye.
Addressing debates over a possible review of the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted in 2023, Musawa stressed that replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima or selecting a running mate who is not a Hausa, Fulani, or Kanuri Muslim could complicate APC’s electoral prospects in 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,” she said, highlighting the deep-rooted social and political structures that shape voting behaviour in the region.
Musawa identified key states such as Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara, and Sokoto, noting that voters there closely scrutinise political choices. “The core North 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 added.
The minister dismissed suggestions that the APC could easily reconfigure its ticket without electoral consequences, describing such assumptions as a misreading of northern political sentiment. “If we start to toy with the current arrangement, it becomes a problem. Those making such suggestions may not fully appreciate how politics works in the North,” Musawa warned.
On the prospects of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections, Musawa expressed scepticism about their ability to challenge the ruling party. She described the opposition landscape as fragmented, with multiple actors pursuing similar ambitions. “You have an opposition that is overcrowded. Everyone is vying for the same position. And that alone creates a recipe for failure,” she said.
Musawa added that while the APC does not underestimate its rivals, the party remains confident of its electoral position.
“We are not taking anybody lightly. But from what we are seeing now, I don’t see how they can unseat President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.”
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The minister emphasised that a strong opposition is healthy for democracy but reiterated that the APC is focused on consolidating its support base in preparation for the next general election.
