Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, has mentioned seven northern states that the All Progressives Congress (APC) could jeopardise in the 2027 presidential election if it chooses to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima or opts not to select a northern Muslim running mate for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Speaking on the “Mic On Show” hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, Musawa highlighted the ongoing speculation regarding potential changes to the APC’s current Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, which was successful in the 2023 election.
She emphasised that any decision to alter the current ticket could carry significant political risks for the party, especially in the northern regions of Nigeria, where regional and religious affiliations play a crucial role in shaping voter behaviour.
Musawa stated, “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.”
She explained that politics in northern Nigeria was deeply entrenched in social identity and historical voting behaviour, stating that the region remains one of the most politically sophisticated in the country.
Musawa said, “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.”
Musawa dismissed suggestions that APC could easily reshuffle its presidential ticket without electoral consequences, describing such assumptions as 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 the growing conversation around opposition alliances ahead of 2027, the minister expressed confidence that Tinubu and Shettima were firmly positioned to secure a second term.
She described the opposition as fragmented and overcrowded, with multiple political heavyweights competing for the same leadership space.
She stated, “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.”
While acknowledging that opposition figures remained influential and politically active, she insisted that the ruling party was not underestimating any challenger.
“We are not taking anybody lightly. But as the opposition is emerging now, I do not see how they can unseat President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima,” she added.
Musawa further stated that although APC welcomed a vibrant opposition as part of democratic development, the party was focused on strengthening its political base and consolidating support across the country 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,” Musawa said.
