The Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against any plan to replace Vice-President Kashim Shettima on President Bola Tinubu’s ticket ahead of the 2027 presidential election, warning that such a move could harm the party’s electoral prospects.
Musawa made the remarks during an appearance on MIC ON, a podcast hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, amid growing speculation that the ruling party may consider fielding a Christian running mate in a bid to rebalance the ticket.
According to the minister, altering the current religious and regional composition of the APC ticket could provoke discontent in the North, particularly among Muslim voters who see political representation as closely tied to identity and influence.
She stressed that removing a northern Muslim from the presidential ticket could create resistance in the region, noting that political participation is deeply ingrained in northern communities.
Musawa described the North as a critical force in Nigeria’s political landscape, pointing to what she termed a long tradition of political awareness and engagement, even among rural and less formally educated populations. She argued that voters in the region view elections as a vital opportunity to shape national direction and assert their relevance in governance.
On the strength of the opposition, the minister expressed confidence that the current configuration of rival parties lacks the cohesion needed to defeat the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in 2027. She characterized opposition figures as individually influential but divided by competing ambitions for the presidency.
Musawa also questioned the viability of a potential alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, suggesting that conflicting expectations among their supporters could undermine such a coalition. She further doubted Obi’s ability to secure substantial support in the North if positioned at the top of a joint ticket.
Additionally, she played down the potential impact of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, on APC’s fortunes in the North-West, expressing skepticism that he could significantly erode the president’s support base in the region.
Her comments come amid intensifying political calculations and early maneuvering ahead of the 2027 general elections.
