The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has claimed that most Christians consulted by the ruling party are comfortable with the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda said the concerns initially raised by some Christians over the possibility of being sidelined under a government led by two Muslim leaders had not materialised. He insisted that Christians continued to have their voices heard within the administration.
The APC chairman made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, where he maintained that many Christians the party had engaged were satisfied with the arrangement.
He also rejected suggestions that Tinubu’s religious background had encouraged discrimination or persecution of Christians during his three years in office.
Addressing questions about the President’s health and ability to seek another term, Yilwatda expressed confidence that Tinubu was physically fit to contest the 2027 election.
He also defended the President’s decision not to attend every campaign rally, explaining that his responsibilities as head of state would make it difficult for him to participate in all party activities. According to Yilwatda, some government officials had been advised to attend selected rallies to ensure that official duties were not disrupted by campaign engagements.
On the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the APC chairman denied claims that the ruling party was responsible for the opposition party’s internal problems. His comments followed a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated the David Mark led leadership of the ADC.
Yilwatda questioned why the opposition party was blaming the APC for a dispute that arose from a legal case reportedly initiated by one of its own members.
The APC chairman also expressed confidence that Tinubu would defeat former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a free and fair presidential election in 2027.
He argued that Atiku’s performance in the 2023 election was largely driven by the political strength and structure of the Peoples Democratic Party rather than his individual popularity.
According to Yilwatda, the PDP’s political machinery played a major role in bringing Atiku into contention, insisting that the former vice president did not achieve his electoral performance solely through his personal appeal.
He further defended the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, over his proposed ₦10 million reward for councils that deliver their wards for Tinubu in the 2027 election. Yilwatda maintained that the proposed incentive should not be regarded as vote buying.
