APC: Give us Muslim, Christian ticket or forget our votes – Northern Christian clerics

By Adeleye Kunle

No fewer than 500 prominent Christian clerics from the north and heads of different support groups within the All Progressives Congress have rejected the party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

The groups, which met on Tuesday to review the participation of Christians in the APC presidential campaign council, warned that it will withdraw the support of millions of its followers across the country should the ruling party proceed with Kassim Shettima as Bola Tinubu’s running mate.

The Christian leaders and heads of the APC coalition made their displeasure known in a communique issued at the end of the meeting in Abuja.

The communique was jointly signed by Lucas Bako, Pst. Dauda Yakubu, Pst. Yiguda Augustine, Diconess Jessica Nuhu, Elder Williams Unogwu, Dr. Theodore Uji, Pst. Ambas Kelvin, Mr. Haruna Vincent and Bish Emeka.

Lamenting the neglect of Christians, they said fielding the same faith ticket in an election is, by all standards, a national threat and one that must not be allowed to stand.

They said, “Nigeria has already had enough insecurity and challenges, and contributing to further insecurity and challenges in the country should bother every well-meaning and concerned Nigerian”.

“We understand that the argument against substituting the Muslim Vice Presidential candidate of the APC with a Northern Christian is based on its proponents because it is no longer possible. Still, we beg to differ by stating categorically that it is possible, adding that the APC can make the change if they have the interest of Nigeria at heart.

“To address this, a few steps must be taken, which in isolation or collectively will bring about the APC not fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket but a Muslim-Christian ticket which, of course, should be the standard.

“The leadership of the APC should ensure the Vice Presidential candidate nominee resigns with immediate effect. As clearly stated in the new electoral amendment law, he should be made to officially write to INEC to notify them of his withdrawal from the race.