The issue has sparked a national debate over whether it is ideal for a party to present a same-faith presidential ticket.
Kashim Shettima, vice presidential candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress has said the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu will not Islamise Nigeria if he becomes president in 2023.
The APC presidential candidate, Tinubu and his running mate Senator Shettima are Muslims.
The issue has sparked a national debate over whether it is ideal for a party to present a same-faith presidential ticket.
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, on Thursday described the choice of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to field Muslim presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the 2023 election as an affront to Christians.
The Primate called on Nigerians to reject the party and vote it out, adding that APC’s decision to go with a same-faith ticket was a calculated plot to “Islamise” Nigeria, NAN reports.
The cleric insisted that if Nigerians vote for the party, religious and social discrimination and open public enforcement of the Sharia law will be done in some parts of the country.
However, the APC vice-presidential candidate on Thursday at the 96th Anniversary Lecture of the Yoruba Tennis Club described the controversy over the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the party as not necessary.
He said Tinubu’s wife, Remi “is not only a Christian but a senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God as well.”
Noting that there is religious diversity in Tinubu’s household, Shettima said, “Some of Asiwaju’s children are Christians.
“How can you convince someone that Asiwaju is going to Islamise Nigeria when he did not Islamise his own family?”