The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has warned that the All-Progressives Congress (APC) risks weakening its electoral fortunes in the 2027 presidential election if it drops a Northern Muslim from President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ticket.
Speaking on Mic On Show with journalist Seun Okinbaloye amid speculation over possible changes to the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, Musawa cautioned that altering the current political formula could trigger serious consequences for the ruling party, especially in the North.
“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 said.
According to the minister, politics in the core northern region is deeply rooted and highly sophisticated, warning that decisions taken without proper understanding of its dynamics could backfire.
“The core North, states like Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto, understands 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 explained.
She dismissed claims that the APC could easily reshuffle its presidential ticket without consequences, describing such assumptions as politically naive.
“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 said.
Musawa also played down the threat posed by emerging opposition alliances ahead of the 2027 polls, arguing that the opposition remains divided and unlikely to dislodge the APC.
“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,” she said.
While acknowledging the importance of a vibrant opposition for democratic growth, the minister insisted that the ruling party remains confident of retaining power.
“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.
