The race for the 2027 Nigerian general elections is already off to a familiar, yet increasingly contentious, start. Campaign activities have barely kicked off, and seasoned politicians and religious leaders are dusting off their old playbook, attempting to sway voters with fiery rhetoric and cash. But this time, it appears Nigerians aren't just listening; they're talking back.
Opposition leader Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has been making waves by focusing on President Bola Tinubu’s personal history and the religious makeup of his administration. Abubakar, a former Vice President, recently sat down for an interview where he reiterated his long-standing opposition to a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. He recalled refusing to pair with Tinubu, a fellow Muslim, as his running mate under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2007 and again when former President Muhammadu Buhari was considering Tinubu in 2015. "I don't believe in a Muslim-Muslim ticket because it doesn't bode well for the country," Abubakar stated in the interview anchored by Yusuf Mamman for JKD Media.
Interestingly, Abubakar’s own political past has also seen him linked to a same-faith ticket. Back in 1993, his camp, led by the influential Shehu Yar’Adua, pushed for Abubakar to be the running mate to M.K.O. Abiola. Abiola ultimately chose Babagana Kingibe, another Muslim, leading to a Muslim-Muslim pairing that would win the annulled election.
Political analysts suggest Abubakar’s current stance is a calculated move to tap into the deep-seated religious sensitivities within Nigeria. Historically, political pairings in Nigeria have often been strategic, balancing regional and ethnic interests. In the 1979 presidential election, for instance, Nnamdi Azikiwe of the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) selected Ishaya Audu, a Christian from Kaduna State and former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, as his running mate. Similarly, Obafemi Awolowo, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) candidate, chose Philip Umeadi, a Christian from Anambra State. Even during military rule, Joseph Wey, a Christian, served as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters – a role akin to vice president – for nine years under the predominantly Christian Yakubu Gowon regime.
Conversely, Muhammadu Buhari, also a Muslim, partnered with Tunde Idiagbon, a fellow Muslim, as his second-in-command during their December 1983 to August 1985 military government.
The religious narrative isn't confined to politicians. Two prominent clerics have become vocal proponents of framing the upcoming elections as a religious battleground. Sani Jingir, a Jos-based cleric known for his strong advocacy of the APC's Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023, has once again stirred controversy. Speaking at a mass wedding event organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples, Jingir declared, "I am one of those who raise the flag of Islam; I am calling on people to come and let us do Muslim-Muslim again." He acknowledged that his words might upset non-Muslims but argued that in a democracy, the majority rules. "If I say Muslim-Muslim, what have I taken away from them?" he questioned, urging Muslims to register and vote in large numbers to prove their demographic strength. Jingir, a factional leader of the reformist Salafi movement Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (Izala), even claimed that divine intervention helped defeat the opposition in 2023.
His own deputy, Yusuf Sambo, has reportedly voiced support for Atiku Abubakar, emphasizing the need for a leader who champions fairness and justice for all faiths.
Jingir’s supporters have attempted to deflect criticism by pointing to equally charged remarks from Christian preacher Ezekiel Dachomo. A video circulating shows Dachomo linking the banditry and killings in Plateau State directly to the election of Muslim presidents and vice presidents. "We must be very careful with the issue of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2027 election," Dachomo warned. "When it comes to the state level, God will show us what to do. However, at the federal level, we will demonstrate that we are the majority, as per the Nigerian census."