Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has cautioned that removing Vice-President Kashim Shettima from the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 election could negatively impact the party’s electoral prospects.
Musawa made the remarks during an interview on the MIC ON podcast, hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, amid speculation that the ruling party might replace Shettima with a Christian running mate for President Bola Tinubu.
According to Musawa, altering the religious and regional balance of the ticket could trigger resistance among voters in northern Nigeria. “If we toy with changing the construct of what we have now, it is a problem. If there is no Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri Muslim on that ticket, it creates a hurdle. That’s the reality of the way the people think,” she said. She emphasised that politics in the north is deeply rooted in identity and civic engagement, noting that the region plays a decisive role in national political outcomes.
Musawa described northern voters as highly politically aware, stating, “I come from a very rural area in Katsina State. All my family and all the people that I know that have never been to school, have a radio. They will tell you about the Russian Revolution. BBC Hausa did what it was supposed to do.” She added that for many northern communities, political participation is viewed as a key avenue for influencing national outcomes, describing it as an extension of identity.
On the opposition, Musawa downplayed their chances of defeating Tinubu and Shettima in 2027, describing opposition parties as fragmented and driven largely by personal ambition. “To be fair, I think all of the members of the opposition are formidable people. But honestly, especially the way the opposition is emerging, I don’t see how the opposition as it is now can unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima,” she said. She described opposition figures as competing for the same position, creating what she called a “recipe for disaster.”
Musawa also questioned the feasibility of a joint ticket involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, citing competing ambitions and voter expectations. She noted that such an arrangement could create dissatisfaction among voters and stressed that Peter Obi would struggle to mobilise northern votes as effectively as needed.
Finally, Musawa dismissed suggestions that former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai could significantly weaken APC support in the North-West, stating she did not believe he could “injure” President Tinubu’s vote base in the region.
