Kwankwaso Defends Muslim-Muslim Ticket, Says Competence Should Outweigh Religion

Former Kano State Governor and national political leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has defended the adoption of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in Nigeria, arguing that competence, rather than religious affiliation, should be the primary consideration in choosing political leaders.

Speaking during an interview with Channels Television, Kwankwaso said there was nothing inherently wrong with a presidential candidate and running mate professing the same faith.

He cited the 1993 presidential election in which the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and Babagana Kingibe, both Muslims, contested on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

According to him, the Abiola-Kingibe ticket did not generate the religious controversy witnessed in recent elections because Nigerians were more concerned with the candidates’ competence, popularity and leadership qualities.

“Ordinarily, there is nothing wrong with a Muslim-Muslim ticket or a Christian-Christian ticket. We did that during the SDP days when MKO Abiola was our presidential candidate and Babagana Kingibe was his running mate. Nobody shouted or talked about religion. People focused on competence, popularity and many other positive qualities,” Kwankwaso said.

He added that both Muslims and Christians actively campaigned for and supported the SDP ticket at the time, suggesting that national unity and leadership capacity took precedence over religious considerations.

Kwankwaso’s remarks come amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections and renewed debate over the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2023 presidential election.

His comments are likely to fuel further discussion on the role of religion and identity in Nigeria’s electoral politics as parties begin preparations for the next election cycle.