THE Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) could significantly weaken its chances in the 2027 general election if it drops a Northern Muslim from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election ticket.
Musawa gave the warning during a recent episode of Mic On Show with journalist Seun Okinbaloye, amid rising speculation that the ruling party may consider altering the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket that powered the APC to victory in the 2023 elections.
The minister cautioned that replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima or removing a Northern Muslim from the ticket would pose serious political risks, particularly in the core northern states where voting patterns are deeply influenced by regional and religious considerations.
“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,” Musawa said.
She explained that politics in Northern Nigeria is deeply entrenched in social identity and historical voting behaviour, noting that the region remains one of the most politically sophisticated in the country.
“The core North, states like Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto 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 stated.
Musawa dismissed suggestions that the APC could easily reshuffle its presidential ticket without electoral consequences, describing such assumptions as politically naive and detached from northern realities.
“I think if we toy with changing the construct of what we have now, it is a problem. People who suggest otherwise may not fully understand how politics works in the North,” she warned.
Addressing the growing conversation around opposition alliances ahead of 2027, the minister expressed confidence that President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima remain firmly positioned to secure a second term.
She described the opposition as fragmented and overcrowded, with multiple political heavyweights competing for the same leadership space.
“You have an opposition that is overcrowded. Every single member is vying for the same spot, and that alone creates a recipe for political failure,” Musawa said.
While acknowledging that opposition figures remain influential and politically active, she insisted that the ruling party is not underestimating any challenger.
“We are not taking anybody lightly. But as the opposition is emerging now, I do not see how they can unseat President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima,” she added.
Musawa further stated that although the APC welcomes a vibrant opposition as part of democratic development, the party is focused on strengthening its political base and consolidating support across the country ahead of the next election cycle.
“It is good for democracy to have opposition. Nobody wants a one-party state. But we are confident in our political direction,” she said.