Christian-Christian ticket will win Nigeria’s presidency one day — Gov Sule Abdullahi

n n

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has expressed confidence that Nigeria will eventually elect a president and vice-president on a Christian-Christian ticket, insisting that the country’s Constitution does not require religious balancing in political appointments or electoral tickets.

n

Sule stated this on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today while responding to criticism by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over issues of political representation.

n

The governor dismissed the criticism as a normal feature of opposition politics.

n

“I think it is normal for Senator Kwankwaso, whom I respect a lot, to say that because he’s opposition. He cannot say anything good. It is expected of him to say that,” he said.

n

Sule argued that the 1999 Constitution focuses on inclusiveness and federal character rather than religion.

n

According to him, Sections 14(3) and 15 of the Constitution address equitable representation and ethnicity, but make no provision for religious balancing.

n

“There is no place where it talks about religion. Section 14 didn’t talk about religion. Section 15 did not talk about religion,” he said.

n

The governor cited the victories of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima in 2023, as well as the late MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe’s presidential ticket in 1993, as examples of successful Muslim-Muslim tickets.

n

“You can see both elections have been clear that the Muslim-Muslim ticket has won. I pray that one day Nigeria will have a Christian-Christian ticket, and it will win; that’s what I pray to see,” Sule said.

n

He, however, stressed that his decision to retain Emmanuel Akabe, a Christian, as deputy governor was based on competence rather than religion.

n

“I have always had a Christian as a deputy, Emmanuel Akabe. We thought it was important because Emmanuel Akabe is competent and our state is different from Nigeria,” he said.

n

Sule added that political realities differ across states, noting that states such as Enugu and Bayelsa already operate Christian-Christian leadership without controversy.

n n