By Ezeocha Nzeh
Despite efforts to woo the Northern Christian community, the Northern Christian members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have maintained their stand in rejecting the party’s Muslim – Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 general elections
It would be recalled that the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who picked his fellow Muslim, Senator Kashim Shettima as his run ning mate has continuously battled to convince the Christian folk on why they should accepte his Muslim – Muslim choice in the 2023 presidential election
Tinubu has at different times met with the Northern Christian clerics in his efforts to convince them to accept his choice of Shettima, even as the meeting have attracted reactions and critisms from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
Insisting on their position not to accept the same faith ticket of their party, Christian clerics from the north and heads of different support groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, vowed not to vote for the party unless it changed its Muslim-Muslim ticket to a Muslim-Christian one.
The groups, under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Christian Clerics (CNCC) and the APC Christian Youth Group (APCYG), which met in Abuja to review the participation of Christians in the APC presidential campaign council, threatened to withdraw the support of millions of their followers across the country, should the ruling party ignore their earlier requestt and proceed with Kassim Shettima as Bola Tinubu’s running mate.
Rising from their meeting, the Northern Christian clerics and youth groups in a communique 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, lamenting the neglect of Christians, adding that the same faith ticket in an election is, by all standards, a national threat and one that must not be allowed to stand.
According to them, “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.
“Upon the APC vice Presidential candidate’s withdrawal from the race, the party’s leadership should notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by writing officially to the Commission about the development. This will allow a hitch-free substitution of the party’s Vice Presidential candidate.
“The new electoral Act states that a candidate elected in the primary election of a party platform as its flag bearer for any position can resign his interest and withdraw from the contest by notifying INEC no later than 90 days before the election. If this window period is permissible for elected party candidates, how much more its surrogates
“If the APC can find a competent northern Christian to lead its 2023 general election campaign, finding a replacement for Kashim Shetima should not be a problem. APC should look through the many capable northern Christian members of the party who have contributed to its success since its formation and since its takeover of Nigeria’s national leadership.”
The group warned that neglecting the grievances around the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 election could breed further resentment, costing the party its expected victory in the forthcoming election.
“There is already disaffection over APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket not only among Northern Christians but among the generality of the Christian population of the country. Undoubtedly, the APC has tried its best to ensure effective leadership of the country by making efforts toward improving Nigeria. But it must be noted that the continuation of the APC in Nigeria’s national leadership in 2023 will ensure the sustainability of the party’s efforts towards improving Nigeria,” the Christian clerics and youths noted
