The Kaduna State All Progressives Congress has presented a Muslim-Muslim candidate for the governorship election in the state despite outcry from some Christian groups in the state.
The Party’s governorship candidate, Senator Uba Sani, announced Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s Deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, as his running mate for the 2023 governorship election.
Sani announced his decision on Monday night after consultations with critical stakeholders in the state.
“I am happy to announce that I have picked Her Excellency, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, as my running mate in the 2023 governorship election in Kaduna State,” he said.
Sani, who’s the incumbent senator representing the Kaduna Central Senatorial District, said the choice of El-Rufai’s deputy was because she had contributed immensely to the giant strides recorded by the current administration in the state.
He said, “Dr Balarabe has demonstrated hard work, punctuality, dedication and team spirit in the discharge of her responsibility as Deputy Governor which has endeared her to the critical stakeholders in the State.
“I wish to therefore call on the good people of Kaduna State to support the choice of Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe as my running mate. I also enjoin them in coming out en-masse to vote for our ticket during the forthcoming 2023 general election. Your mandate in 2023 will enable us to build a peaceful, prosperous, and greater Kaduna State.
“Together, we are determined to make the State a reference point for good and responsive governance.”
The choice of a running mate of the same faith has been rife in the Nigerian political scene as the 2023 elections draw closer.
The Concerned Group of Christian Religious Leaders in Kaduna State had earlier warned the APC against presenting a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
In a statement issued to Journalists in Kaduna, Pastor Gideon Alkhana said it would be sacrilegious and evil should Senator Uba Sani pick another Muslim as his running mate come to the 2023 general election.
“If our brothers, who are vying for different political offices in southern Kaduna decided to support Uba Sani’s decision to fly a Muslim-Muslim ticket, we’ll make sure we mobilise against their elections in 2023, adding some of the elective Executive Chairmen in the region would also lose their support.
“Kaduna State has already been deeply divided within the fault lines of ethnicity and religion. Uba Sani and his party cannot afford to continue with El-Rufai’s dangerous trend,” the group said.
The group insisted that the southern part of the state had capable individuals from the Christian faith with proven track records that could deliver just like anyone from the other faith in the APC.
“While we are conscious of the fact that religion should not form the basis of our leadership selection process, the peculiar circumstance the state found herself in calls for critical reflection in the decisions we take today.
The group also said that flying a Muslim-Muslim ticket could throw the state into confusion.
