Muslim/Muslim Ticket: Resignations Sweep APC  

Bola Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and the All Progressives Congress, APC could not have expected the reactions to the choice of Kassim Shetima as the party’s vice presidential candidate.

Thus, less than 48 hours after he picked the former Borno state governor as his vice-presidential candidate, two members of his party, Daniel Bwala, special adviser to the deputy senate president on legal matters, and Senator Ishaku Abbo, have resigned from the APC.

Tinubu had unveiled Shetima as his running mate in next year’s presidential election, on Saturday while paying Salah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina state, saying he took the decision in the interest of the country, and also “because he is competent, capable and reliable.”

His action has generated mixed reactions from his party and other well-meaning Nigerians who expressed fear over what impacts a muslim-muslim ticket will have on a multi-religious country like Nigeria.

Bwala had announced his resignation from the party, noting that his conscience will not allow him to campaign for Tinubu.

He said he had expected that his party should “gravitate towards uniting our people,” rather it has polarised the country more by promoting a muslim-muslim ticket.

“Tonight I officially resigned my membership of @OfficialAPCNg on principles and conviction that I hold so dear. At this time of our national existence, our efforts and energy should gravitate towards uniting our people,” Bwala said, few hours after Tinubu announced Shetima as his running mate.

He said his resignation took effect from July 10, adding that his decision to leave the party is based on “principles and conviction.”

Also reacting, Senator Abbo accused the APC flagbearer of trying to distabilise the country, adding that a committee set up by the party on the issue advised Tinubu not to pick a muslim as his running mate. The former Lagos state governor, he said, jettisoned the committee’s recommendation.

Abbo in a statement said, “We sat down in Abuja and strategised, and we concluded that he should not take a Muslim as running mate. He (Tinubu) threw away the report. My conscience will not allow me to campaign for Tinubu.

He explained that he’s a member of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN and cannot go against the body’s decision not to support a muslim-muslim ticket.

The body representing Christians in the country has directed its members not to support APC over is muslim-mulsim joint ticket.

He said, “I am a member of CAN; I cannot deny CAN. I remain in APC. But I will take the survival of my country first over political considerations.

“It is very irresponsible of Tinubu to take his political survival over the stability and peace of Nigeria.

“For Tinubu now to be given the ticket and turn around to do what he couldn’t achieve in 2015 despite opposition from Catholics and other Christian leaders is extremely irresponsible.

“Buhari fought a civil war and understands the consequences of a divided nation. When Tinubu wanted to be VP in 2015, Buhari said no because he understood the importance of unity.

“We cannot work for such a man. I will oppose (a) Christian-Christian ticket because I am invested in the stability of this country. A Christian-Christian ticket will be insensitive to Muslims of this country.

“The country is evenly divided among Muslims and Christians. So any government that is Muslim-Muslim will be illegitimate and will never gain the respect of Christians.”

Meanwhile, the Middle Belt Forum, MBF has also rejected the APC Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, describing it as a danger to the collective wellbeing and unity of the country. It said the action is an evil plot that must that must be defeated in 2023 by Nigerians.

National President of MBF, Dr Bitrus Pogu, who made this known in Makurdi, Benue state described the choice as an unfortunate development.

Similarly, the APC has denied that its Legal Officer, Barr. Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq has resigned from the party following the controversy that trailed the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket. The party clarified that El-Marzuq has not left the party, describing the report as being “borne out of mischief or extreme negligence. We urge the General Public to kindly disregard it.”