Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has cautioned that internal discussions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over its 2027 presidential ticket could have far-reaching electoral consequences, particularly if they disrupt the party’s current regional and religious balance.
Speaking during an interview on MIC ON, a podcast hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, Musawa addressed speculations that the APC was considering replacing Vice-President Kashim Shettima ahead of the next general election. The reported consideration, according to political discussions in recent weeks, centres on the possibility of fielding a Christian running mate alongside President Bola Tinubu.
Musawa said such a move could create significant challenges for the party, especially in the northern part of the country, where she noted that political identity and representation remain critical factors in voting behaviour. She warned that removing a northern Muslim from the ticket could provoke resistance among voters in the region.
“If we toy with changing the construct of what we have now, it is a problem,” she said. “If there is no Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri Muslim on that ticket, it creates a hurdle. That’s the reality of the way the people think.”
The minister argued that debates around altering the ticket often reflect a limited understanding of northern political dynamics. She described politics in the region as deeply ingrained in everyday life, with a high level of civic awareness that cuts across educational and socio-economic lines.
Drawing on personal experience from her home state of Katsina, Musawa said political consciousness in the North is sustained through long-standing engagement with public affairs. “I come from a very rural area in Katsina State. All my family and all the people that I know that have never been to school have a radio,” she said, citing the role of Hausa-language broadcasting in shaping political awareness.
According to her, political participation in many northern communities is viewed as a primary means of influencing national outcomes. She said elections are treated as major civic events, with entire households mobilising to vote every four years. For many voters, she added, political participation has become closely tied to identity and a sense of collective power.
Musawa also commented on the state of the opposition, saying she did not believe it currently posed a serious threat to the re-election prospects of President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima. While acknowledging the individual political weight of opposition figures, she described opposition parties as fragmented and driven by competing ambitions.
“To be fair, I think all of the members of the opposition are formidable people,” she said. “But honestly, especially the way the opposition is emerging, I don’t see how the opposition as it is now can unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima.”
She said the opposition space appeared overcrowded, with leading figures pursuing the same political objective, a situation she suggested could undermine cohesion and electoral strategy. “Every single member of that opposition is vying for the same spot and only for that spot,” she said.
Addressing speculation about potential alliances, Musawa questioned the viability of a joint presidential ticket involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi. She said such an arrangement would face practical and political difficulties, particularly around leadership expectations and voter alignment.
While describing Atiku as a significant political figure, Musawa said a partnership with Obi would raise unresolved questions about who would lead the ticket. She added that either configuration could present challenges, citing voter expectations among Obi’s supporters and voting patterns in the North.
Musawa also dismissed suggestions that former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai could substantially erode APC support in the North-West. She said she did not believe he had the capacity to significantly weaken President Tinubu’s vote base in the region.
The remarks come amid growing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, as parties and political actors begin to test alliances and assess electoral strategies across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
