Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has stated that Nigeria's 1999 Constitution does not mandate that the president and vice president must come from different religious backgrounds. Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today program on Tuesday, July 21, Sule argued that the law emphasizes federal character and equitable representation rather than religious balancing.
Constitutional Provisions on Inclusiveness
Sule cited Sections 14(3) and 15 of the Constitution, which address inclusiveness, equitable representation, and ethnicity. He noted, 'There is no place where it talks about religion.' His comments came in response to criticism from Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, regarding representation issues. Sule dismissed the criticism as typical of an opposition politician.
Historical Precedents of Same-Faith Tickets
The governor pointed to historical examples of successful same-faith presidential tickets, including the Muslim-Muslim ticket of MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe in 1993, as well as the Muslim-Muslim ticket of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima in 2023. Sule expressed optimism that Nigerians would one day elect a Christian-Christian presidential ticket, stating, 'I pray that one day Nigeria will have a Christian-Christian ticket, and it will win.'
Religion Should Not Determine Success
According to Sule, religion should not be a determining factor for the success of a presidential ticket. He emphasized that competence and political realities are more important. The governor also explained his consistent choice of Emmanuel Akabe, a Christian, as his deputy governor in Nasarawa. He said this decision was based on competence and the state's political dynamics, not constitutional requirements. He noted that states like Enugu and Bayelsa already have Christian-Christian governor and deputy governor tickets due to their unique demographics.
Broader Political Context
In related news, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani expressed confidence that northern voters would support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election despite opposition claims. Sani rejected suggestions that the North would vote based on religion, ethnicity, or tribe, and dismissed the opposition's argument that the election would be a contest between the APC and ordinary Nigerians.
