Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule says Nigeria will eventually elect a president and vice president who are both Christians, arguing that competence—not religion—should remain the primary consideration in leadership.
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has expressed confidence that Nigeria will one day elect a Christian-Christian presidential ticket, despite the renewed debate surrounding the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.
The governor made the remarks while speaking on the broader issue of religious balancing in Nigerian politics, stressing that the country’s Constitution does not prohibit candidates of the same faith from contesting together for the presidency. His comments come as political discussions intensify over whether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will retain a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2027 election.
“One Day Nigeria Will Elect a Christian-Christian Ticket”
Sule said he believes the country will eventually move beyond religious considerations in choosing its leaders.
According to him, Nigerians should not assume that only a Muslim-Muslim or Muslim-Christian ticket can secure electoral victory.
“I pray that one day Nigeria will have a Christian-Christian ticket and it will win,” the governor said.
He argued that what ultimately matters is the competence, integrity and capacity of candidates rather than their religious affiliations.
Remarks Come Amid Fresh Debate
Sule’s comments have attracted attention because they come amid renewed public debate over the APC’s same-faith presidential ticket.
President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, both Muslims, contested and won the 2023 presidential election on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, a decision that generated mixed reactions from political leaders, civil society groups and religious organisations across Nigeria.
As political consultations ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum, discussions have resurfaced over whether the APC should retain the same arrangement or adopt a religiously balanced ticket.
Governor Calls for Inclusivity
While defending the constitutional right of political parties to nominate candidates of their choice, Sule stressed that governance should remain inclusive regardless of the religious composition of any presidential ticket.
He maintained that leaders must serve all Nigerians without discrimination based on religion or ethnicity.
The governor also suggested that Nigeria’s democratic maturity would eventually allow voters to make decisions based primarily on competence and performance rather than identity politics.
Debate Likely to Continue Ahead of 2027
Religion has historically played a significant role in presidential ticket selection in Nigeria.
Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, major political parties have generally adopted Muslim-Christian or Christian-Muslim combinations in an effort to reflect the country’s religious diversity.
The APC’s 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket departed from that convention and remains one of the most debated political decisions in recent years. Analysts expect the issue to remain part of conversations as parties prepare for the 2027 presidential election.