Trending 
Nigeria’s Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has cautioned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) risks weakening its chances in the 2027 general election if it removes a Northern Muslim from President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ticket.
Speaking on the Mic On Show with journalist Seun Okinbaloye, Musawa noted that dropping Vice President Kashim Shettima or choosing a running mate outside the core northern Muslim communities could create serious political difficulties, particularly in key northern states.
She emphasised that Northern politics is deeply rooted and sophisticated, with voters expecting to exercise influence at every election cycle.
According to Musawa, northern states such as Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara, and Sokoto treat politics as a way of life, and any miscalculation regarding the ticket could backfire for the APC.
“The core North, states like Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto, understands 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 said
She suggested that assumptions about reshuffling the ticket without consequence reflect a lack of understanding of northern political dynamics.
Regarding the opposition, Musawa described it as fragmented, with multiple politicians competing for the same leadership positions.
She argued that this division increases the APC’s likelihood of retaining power, noting that the party does not see the current opposition as capable of unseating President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.
“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,” Musawa said
Musawa also stated that while the APC respects the presence of a strong opposition as part of a healthy democracy,the party remains focused on consolidating its political base in preparation for the next election cycle.
