Minister of Art Hannatu Musawa warns APC against altering Muslim–Muslim ticket

Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against any move to alter the current Muslim–Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that such a decision could weaken the party’s chances at the polls.

Musawa made this known during an interview on MIC ON, a podcast hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, amid growing speculation that the ruling party may consider replacing Vice-President Kashim Shettima with a Christian running mate for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to her, changing the religious and regional composition of the ticket could create serious political challenges, particularly in the North.

“If we toy with changing the construct of what we have now, it is a problem. If there is no Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri Muslim on that ticket, it creates a hurdle. That’s the reality of the way the people think,” Musawa said.

She explained that politics in northern Nigeria is deeply tied to identity and civic participation, stressing that the region plays a decisive role in national elections due to its high level of political engagement.

“I come from a very rural area in Katsina State. People who have never been to school still own radios and can discuss global events. Politics is something the North feels a strong sense of ownership over,” she said.

Musawa added that many northern families view elections as one of the few ways they can directly influence Nigeria’s future, describing voting as almost an identity-defining exercise in the region.

“They wait every four years to line up. A man with his four wives and 30 children will ensure everyone votes. For them, politics is power,” she noted.

The minister also downplayed the chances of the opposition defeating the Tinubu–Shettima ticket in 2027, describing opposition parties as fragmented and driven by competing personal ambitions.

“To be fair, there are formidable people in the opposition, but the way it is shaping up, I don’t see how they can unseat President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima,” she said.

Musawa further questioned the feasibility of a potential alliance between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, arguing that leadership ambitions and voter expectations could complicate such a partnership.

She also dismissed suggestions that former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai could significantly weaken APC’s support base in the North-West, saying she did not believe he had the capacity to seriously damage the party’s standing in the region.

Musawa’s comments come as political discussions ahead of the 2027 elections continue to intensify within and outside the ruling party.