Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticised calls for another Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso argued that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated a degree of religious balance in his political arrangement, pointing to Tinubu’s marriage to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu in making his argument.
He made the remarks while responding to recent comments by Islamic cleric Sheikh Muhammad Sani Yahya Jingir, who has expressed support for another Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
Kwankwaso reportedly said Tinubu is a politician who values balance and fairness, while making a controversial reference to the President’s family arrangement.
The NDC politician’s comments add another dimension to the growing political debate over the religious composition of presidential tickets ahead of 2027.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket became a particularly contentious issue during the 2023 presidential election after the All Progressives Congress selected Tinubu, a Muslim, and Kashim Shettima, also a Muslim, as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
With political alignments already beginning to take shape ahead of 2027, the question of religion and political representation is likely to remain a major campaign issue.
Kwankwaso’s position also signals the growing political contest around how opposition parties intend to differentiate themselves from the ruling APC ahead of the next presidential election.