Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), has revealed that some Muslim clerics encouraged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to adopt a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 general election despite concerns over possible public backlash.…....
Baba-Ahmed made the remarks during an interview on SYMFONI TV while discussing the political calculations and religious considerations that shaped the last presidential election. According to him, Tinubu initially expressed doubts about whether a same-faith ticket could succeed in a country as religiously diverse as Nigeria.
The former presidential aide explained that certain Islamic leaders and political stakeholders strongly believed the strategy would work and reportedly assured Tinubu that Nigerians would support the arrangement despite criticisms from some quarters.
“Our Muslim clerics who went to the president and said Sir, let’s try a Muslim ticket. In fairness to President Tinubu. Initially he doubted whether it will work. They said it will,” Baba-Ahmed stated during the interview.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 election generated intense debate across the country. Supporters argued that competence and political strategy were more important than religious balancing, while critics warned that the arrangement could weaken national unity and alienate Christians.
Baba-Ahmed said the outcome of the election demonstrated the influence religious and political leaders can have in shaping public opinion and electoral decisions. He added that Nigeria’s political class must remain sensitive to issues capable of deepening religious or ethnic divisions.
