Minister Musawa warns APC against dropping Shettima … Stresses northern Muslim representation ahead of 2027 elections
Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has cautioned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) risks weakening its chances in the 2027 presidential election if it drops Vice President Kashim Shettima from the ticket or fails to select a northern Muslim as the running mate for President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on a recent episode of “Mic On Show” with journalist Seun Okinbaloye, Musawa noted that speculation over a possible reshuffle of the Muslim-Muslim ticket with which APC won the 2023 election could have serious political repercussions, particularly in the core northern states.
“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, stressing that northern voting patterns are deeply rooted in regional and religious considerations.
She also explained that politics in the north is sophisticated and heavily influenced by social identity and historical voting behaviour.
“The core north states, like Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto, understand 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 added.
Musawa dismissed assumptions that the APC could easily reshuffle its ticket without consequences, calling such notions 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 opposition dynamics ahead of the 2027 elections, Musawa expressed confidence that President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima were well-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,” she said.
She added that the ruling party was not underestimating any challenger.
Musawa highlighted that APC welcomed a vibrant opposition as part of democratic development but remained focused on consolidating its political base and strengthening support nationwide 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 stated.
