Kenneth Okonkwo, campaign spokesperson of African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has urged Christians and Muslims to reject any same-faith presidential ticket in the interest of unity and sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy.
Okonkwo said the Nigerian Constitution frowns at same-faith presidential ticket.
He was reacting to comments by an Islamic cleric, Shiekh Sani Yahaya Jingir, who spoke in support of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
Okonkwo insisted that Muslim and Christians must be accommodated in the presidency as the President and Vice President.
He wrote: “The Same-Faith ticket is a no-no for Nigeria of today. It is against Sections 14(3), 42, and 15(2)(3)(d) of the 1999 Constitution.
“With the recent comment by one Shiekh Sani Yahaya Jingir that he will repeat his support for a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027 to sustain the unconstitutional dominance and enslavement of others by people of his own faith, it has become imperative for all faithful Muslims and Christians to reject the Same-Faith ticket for the overall unity and sustenance of our democracy and our country.
“The presidency is an association between the President and the Vice, and every association must cut across religious barriers.
“(See section 15(3)(d) of the 1999 Constitution). Muslims and Christians must be accommodated in the presidency as the President or Vice.”
2027: Reject same-faith presidential ticket – Kenneth Okonkwo to Christians, Muslims