Tinubu Meets Religious Leaders Others Over Muslim-Muslim Ticket

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has begun talks with religious leaders over the controversy trailing the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

The spokesman of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation (TCO), Bayo Onanuga, made this known in an interview with The Punch on Tuesday.

Onanuga stated that the former Lagos Governor had begun talks with top religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders to explain his choice of Shettima as his running mate.

He said the Tinubu camp decided not to make the latest development public until some issues are finalised, adding that there was an arrangement not to have it publicized.

Onanuga, however, disclosed that his principal would address the media when the consultations are done.

He said: “We are not publicising in the media. We are talking to the people concerned. The consultation process has started already. We are just not making a lot of noise about it because it is not meant for publication.

“When it is time, we will address the media. For now, we are talking to religious leaders. I am reassuring you again that the candidate is reaching out to everybody concerned.”

Muslim-Muslim Controversy

The APC presidential flagbearer had picked and unveiled the former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate for the 2023 general elections.

Following Shettima’s selection as the APC Vice Presidential candidate, different reactions from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Catholic Church and other groups have reacted to the development.

CAN had stated that the current realities in Nigeria, where Christians and Muslims are being targeted by terrorists, calls for wisdom in the selection of leaders that will represent Nigerians.

”The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has stated it clearly that the situation in the country now is not suitable for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“It is up to Nigerians to accept or reject. Today’s Nigeria is not the same as when Nigerians voted Abiola-Kingibe ticket which was eventually annulled.

“Our prayers are with Nigeria and Nigerians,” the Spokesman to the CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, had said.