The emergence of Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, a northern Christian from Plateau State, as the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress has begun to stir speculation that the APC may be planning a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2027 presidential election.

The political calculation has triggered a debate among adherents across party lines and in religious spaces.

Sunday PUNCH reports that APC?s Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 general elections provoked a storm of controversies, with the opposition alleging an Islamisation agenda.

On Thursday, the APC picked Yilwatda as its new National Chairman to replace Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, a Muslim from Kano State, who stepped down weeks earlier due to what the APC termed ill health.

Yilwatda was unveiled during the APC?s emergency National Executive Committee meeting, presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Until his appointment last Thursday, Yilwatda, from the North Central region, was the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

Political watchers believe that his pick was a strategic gambit by the ruling APC, and it is a pointer to what is coming ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The APC had courted strong criticism and outrage in 2023 when its then-presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, a southern Muslim, picked Kashim Shettima, a northern Muslim, as his running mate.

Many Nigerians, especially from the Christian community, criticised the Tinubu-Shettima Muslim-Muslim ticket, raising questions about inclusivity and democratic representation.

Since then, the Muslim-Muslim ticket has continued to be a flashpoint of intense political debate in certain parts of the country.

The debate resurfaced a few months ago when a top northern Muslim group, Arewa Youth Movement, urged President Tinubu to choose a northern Christian as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.

The group, in a statement issued in April by its National President, Muhammad Aboki, emphasised the need for religious balance in national leadership.

They argued that even though the joint Muslim ticket worked successfully for both Tinubu and the APC in 2023, employing the same strategy in 2027 might backfire.

Another Muslim advocacy group, Concerned Northern Muslim Ummah, in May also made a similar appeal, citing the need for religious balance, national unity and political fairness.

The group, In a statement by its convener, Bala Duguri, urged potential Muslim aspirants for the vice presidential slot within the APC to voluntarily step down in favour of a Christian candidate.

But the Presidency dismissed the debate, insisting that the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket was no longer an issue as the Tinubu-Shettima performance had dispelled fears about any hidden religious agenda.

?Christians are living their lives. The President even attended the Pope?s inauguration in Rome. There is nothing to worry about.

?Many of the names being speculated as potential running mates are Muslims. So again, this is not an issue,? the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated this in an interview with Daily Trust.

Lately, there have been intense debates within the APC as to whether Tinubu should retain Shettima as his running mate for 2027.

In June, the North-East APC stakeholders? meeting became rancorous after the National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, alongside ex-National Chairman, Ganduje, failed to mention Shettima?s name while endorsing President Tinubu for a second term.

However, Yilwatda?s appointment appears to have shifted the political conversation, renewing hopes for Shettima?s retention, especially considering that former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo had each maintained the same running mate throughout their respective eight-year tenures.

Sunday PUNCH findings showed that the Muslim-Muslim debate has crept back into the political space since Yilwatda?s emergence.

According to insinuations in some quarters, picking a Christian to lead the ruling party?s 2027 political battle might be a masterstroke to soften the ground for a repeat of the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the next presidential election.

Shortly after the APC?s new chairman was appointed, Ashiru Pandum, a Special Assistant to a ranking APC Senator from Bauchi State, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, took to his X handle (formerly Twitter), listing Yilwatda?s emergence among the many strategic political offices currently held by Christians under Tinubu?s Muslim-Muslim presidency.

?Muslim-Muslim presidency has given us: President of the Senate ? Christian. Secretary to the Government of the Federation ? Christian. Chief of Defence Staff ? Christian. Chief of Army Staff ? Christian. Chief of Naval Staff ? Christian. Inspector General of Police ? Christian. Minister of Finance ? Christian. Minister of State for Finance ? Christian. Minister of Works ? Christian. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory ? Christian. Minister of Interior ? Christian. Governor of Central Bank ? Christian. Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service ? Christian. Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service ? Christian. Minister of Aviation ? Christian. And now, APC National Chairman ? Christian. God bless Nigeria,? Pandum wrote.

But a member of the Obidient Movement, Prince Ikenga NwaChineke, countered the claim, questioning whether Christian appointments under the same-faith Muslim-led presidency had translated into any tangible benefits for the country.

?But you have seen that the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the presidency and the Christian appointees have not solved the problems of Nigeria. There is hunger in the land, and we should unite and sack them in the 2027 election. Tinubu has failed woefully,? NwaChineke posted.

Posting the new APC chairman?s picture in a separate post on Thursday, an Abuja-based lawyer, Opeyemi Bodunde, noted that Yilwatda?s appointment reflects the diversity of Nigerian politics and may pave the way for the return of another Muslim Muslim ticket in 2027.

?As we look ahead to the 2027 election with a Muslim-Muslim ticket, having a Christian as the party chairman is particularly important, reflecting the diverse religious landscape of our politics. His youthful energy will likely resonate with our vibrant youth demographic, and although his appointment may have taken some by surprise, I see it as a strategic move that aligns with the President?s vision,? the lawyer wrote.

But speaking in separate interviews with Sunday PUNCH, leaders within the Christian community and some political analysts in the country expressed divergent views on the prospect of running another same-faith ticket.

Some Christian leaders said Yilwatda?s emergence may help pacify concerns about marginalisation, particularly in the North Central region, where religious plurality often shapes political loyalty.

Others, however, argued that since the current Muslim-Muslim administration has not negatively impaired governance in any way, there is nothing wrong if Tinubu decides to run again with another Muslim.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Northern Nigeria, Rev. Joseph Hayab, backed the call for a Christian running mate for President Tinubu but cautioned against stoking early debates over the 2027 presidential election.

?Even though we do not want to raise unnecessary tension in the country over religious affairs, those downplaying the Muslim-Muslim ticket issue do not understand the sensitivity of the Nigerian population and the importance of having someone from your faith in the top leadership of the country,? Hayab said.

?There are stronger issues affecting the country currently. People are being killed daily in some parts of Nigeria. There is also hardship across the land. So we have many things bothering us more than religious debates.?

However, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, said repeating the same Muslim Muslim ticket in 2027 would carry no political consequence, as Tinubu had shown fairness to all sections of the country.

?President Tinubu has demonstrated clearly that Muslim Muslim ticket or no Muslim-Muslim ticket, he will be fair to all, irrespective of tribe, race or faith. Our prayer and commitment are for the will of God to be done and for a God-fearing leader who will truly make Nigeria great to emerge as our President. God bless Nigeria,? the PFN President said in an interview with our correspondent in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Saturday.

Corroborating this, the Lagos CAN Chairman, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, said since President Tinubu had proven not to be a religious bigot, there was nothing wrong if he chose to run again with a Muslim.

?People spoke against the Muslim-Muslim ticket at the last election, saying it would be a dangerous thing for the church. But I stood at that time and said to the people that no, it would not. I said Tinubu is not a religious bigot, and he has demonstrated that.

?So far, the church can tell you that we have not been treated badly. This is because what he has done for the Muslim community, he has done even more for the church,? Adegbite said.

The Archbishop of Lagos Methodist Church, Nigeria, Most Rev. Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, also told Sunday PUNCH that religion should not be mixed with governance.

?Does it really show that we have a problem with the Muslim-Muslim ticket? This is something we really need to answer. I think Nigeria?s problem is not religion, so why do we want to create a problem through religion? Yes, it could be Christian-Muslim because of the nature and composition of the country, and it could go the other way.

?But if our problem does not stem from the Muslim-Muslim ticket, and if this joint faith ticket is what will take us to where we expect, then we have to consider that. But if there is an opportunity, at least we have run for years with a Muslim-Muslim ticket, we can run a Muslim-Christian ticket for the second term just for a change, not because of governance, as we should not mix religion with governance,? he said.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops? Conference of Nigeria expressed reservations over the growing religious debate, urging Nigerians to exercise patience and carefully study the political developments in the country before drawing conclusions.

?We need to watch and listen more with care so as to have a better understanding of the reality,? the National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh, said in a short message to Sunday PUNCH.

Similarly, an aide to the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said he would not be drawn into the conversation about who the president should pick as running mate.

?His Eminence will not, as he has made it clear on several occasions, comment on political matters. This is entirely an APC decision, based on reasons best known to them. My sincere apologies,? the aide told one of our correspondents on Saturday. (Sunday PUNCH)

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