2027: Dropping a Northern Muslim from Tinubu’s ticket will be a problem — Musawa warns APC

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) against altering President Bola Tinubu’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that any move to drop a Northern Muslim running mate could weaken the party’s support in the North.

Musawa spoke on a recent episode of *Mic On Show*, hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, amid ongoing discussions within political circles about a possible review of the Muslim–Muslim ticket used by the APC in the 2023 election.

According to the minister, removing Vice President Kashim Shettima or replacing him with a running mate who is not a Northern Muslim would pose serious political risks for the ruling party, particularly 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.

Musawa said electoral politics in Northern Nigeria is deeply shaped by established social and political structures, noting that decisions taken without a proper understanding of these realities could have unintended consequences.

She added that voters in the region attach strong significance to elections, seeing them as a key means of influence and participation. States such as Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto, she noted, remain politically alert and engaged.

“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 said.

Musawa rejected claims that the APC could easily reconfigure its ticket without facing electoral backlash, describing such views 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,” she added.

On the opposition’s chances ahead of 2027, Musawa said she is not persuaded that emerging alliances pose a serious threat to the APC. She described the opposition space as crowded, with several 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.

While noting that the APC is not dismissive of its rivals, Musawa said the party remains confident of retaining power.

“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,” she said.

She added that although a strong opposition is important for democracy, the APC is focused on strengthening its support base ahead of the next general election.