Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate for 2027, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has labeled the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim ticket from the 2023 election a political maneuver intended to manipulate religious feelings. During an appearance on the Arise Television Morning Show, Adebayo argued that voters prioritize competence and fairness over the religious alignment of their leaders.
Adebayo characterized the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as a zero-zero ticket. He explained that Islamic principles prioritize justice and capability in governance rather than the religious identity of those in power. According to Adebayo, the strategy was specifically engineered to defraud the electorate by exploiting faith for political gains rather than focusing on actual governance.
The SDP candidate highlighted that many Nigerians, including those in the North, are primarily seeking a righteous leader capable of resolving the nation’s ongoing hardships. He pointed to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as an ironic example, noting that even a vocal supporter of the religious ticket is now seeking justice for his own family, demonstrating that the strategy failed to deliver on its purported benefits.
