By Kayode Abdulazeez, Ilorin
A group under the aegis of the Conglomerate of Kwara State Christian Communities has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to consider a Christian candidate for the party’s ticket in the 2027 governorship election.
Speaking at the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ilorin, the group said its position was based on fairness, inclusion, and equity in the state’s political arrangement. Reading the prepared statement, Rev. Felix Ajide stressed that the demand was not about religious politics but about balance, competence, and capacity. “Our appeal is not about religion replacing competence. Rather, it is about ensuring that competence is given the opportunity to thrive within an inclusive political framework,” the group said.
The Christian community cited findings from the Africa Polling Institute (API), which showed that 90% of Muslim respondents were willing to support a competent Christian candidate, while 98% of Christian respondents were willing to support a competent Muslim candidate. Overall, 93% of respondents expressed willingness to support a good candidate irrespective of religious background. The group argued that this reflects Kwara’s tradition of religious tolerance and demonstrates that voters prioritize leadership qualities over faith considerations.
It also noted that the APC has Christian politicians with the experience and capacity to govern, mentioning Engr. Femi Sanni (Araba) and Dr. Toyin Alabi as examples of potential candidates. According to the group, including a Christian candidate in the APC’s consideration would promote a sense of belonging among different segments of the state and strengthen unity.
The appeal urged President Tinubu, as APC leader, to take into account the aspirations of the Christian community when decisions are made regarding the party’s direction in Kwara ahead of 2027. The group reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims, pledging support for any process that produces competent and people-centred leadership.
