Most Christians we consulted accept Muslim-Muslim ticket — APC chairman

APC National Chairman, Yilwatda, Governor Sule, Governor Uzodinma, among other political leaders during the rally in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, has said most Christians consulted by the party are comfortable with the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Yilwatda stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, dismissing concerns that the religious composition of the presidency could marginalise Christians.

He said Christians who initially feared that the arrangement would suppress their voices had since realised that they remained represented in the administration.

“Most Christians that we’ve engaged and we’ve spoken to them, they are very okay with the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“The thought and the fear of most Christians was that the Muslim-Muslim ticket may suppress their voices, but their voices are heard loud and clear now,” he said.

The APC chairman also dismissed concerns that Tinubu’s religion had exposed Christians to discrimination or persecution during his three years in office.

On the President’s health and fitness to seek re-election in 2027, Yilwatda maintained that Tinubu was physically capable of contesting.

He also defended Tinubu’s absence from some campaign rallies, arguing that the President’s constitutional responsibilities would not allow him to attend every party engagement.

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According to him, some government officials had been advised to attend selected rallies to ensure that governance was not disrupted by campaign activities.

On the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress, Yilwatda denied allegations that the APC was behind the party’s internal dispute following a Federal High Court judgment invalidating the David Mark-led leadership.

He questioned the opposition party’s decision to blame the ruling party for a dispute arising from a legal action instituted by one of its members.

Yilwatda also expressed confidence that Tinubu would defeat former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a free and fair election.

He attributed Atiku’s performance in the 2023 presidential election largely to the political structure of the Peoples Democratic Party rather than his personal popularity.

“He did not win because of Atiku; he won because of the structure of the PDP. It was the PDP that brought Atiku, not Atiku winning on his own,” he said.

The APC chairman also defended the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s, proposed ₦10m reward for councils that deliver their wards for Tinubu in 2027, arguing that the incentive did not amount to vote buying.