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2027: Minister Musawa Warns APC Against Substituting Shettima
The Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has cautioned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against altering the current leadership structure, which has a Northern Muslim representation on the presidential ticket.
She further warned that any attempt to alter the current configuration could be a recipe for electoral disaster in the 2027 general election.
Speaking on the Mic On Show with Seun Okinbaloye, Musawa addressed the swirling rumors that the ruling party might pivot away from the Muslim-Muslim ticket that successfully brought President Bola Tinubu to power in 2023. She argued that keeping Vice President Kashim Shettima—or at the very least, a Northern Muslim—is not just a matter of tradition, but a strategic necessity.
Musawa highlighted that the ethnic and religious composition of the ticket is a deciding factor for millions of voters in the region. According to her, the political identity of the North is non-negotiable when it comes to the national stage.
“If there is no Hausa, Fulani or Kanuri Muslim on that ticket, it creates a hurdle. That is the reality of the way people think,” Musawa said.
She elaborated on the sophisticated nature of the Northern electorate, noting that for many, voting is a primary source of civic agency.
The “Core North” Powerhouse, according to her, are Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto states.
Regarding these key states, she remarked: “The core North… understands politics at a very deep level. Politics there is a way of life. People wait every four years to line up and vote because that is where they feel they have influence.”
The minister dismissed the idea that the APC could simply swap out its current vice-presidential slot for a non-Northern Muslim without facing a massive backlash at the polls. She labeled those pushing for such a change as out of touch with the grassroots reality of the region.
“I think if we toy with changing the construct of what we have now, it is a problem. People who suggest otherwise may not fully understand how politics works in the North,” she warned.
Turning her attention to the brewing alliances within the opposition, Musawa remained unimpressed. She characterized the current efforts to unseat the Tinubu-Shettima administration as disorganized and ego-driven.
“You have an opposition that is overcrowded. Every single member is vying for the same spot, and that alone creates a recipe for political failure,” Musawa stated.
Despite the activity from rival camps, her confidence in the APC’s staying power remains unshaken.
On the threat level, she said: “We are not taking anybody lightly. But as the opposition is emerging now, I do not see how they can unseat President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.”
On democratic health, Musawa insisted that “It is good for democracy to have opposition. Nobody wants a one-party state. But we are confident in our political direction.”
Ultimately, Musawa’s stance suggests that while the APC welcomes a challenge, they have no intention of fixing what they believe isn’t broken—especially when it comes to the delicate balance of Northern representation.
The Supreme Court has vacated the order of the Court of Appeal which barred the recognition of David Mark as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The apex court on Thursday held that the preservative order by the Court of Appeal was in bad faith, unnecessary, unwarranted and improper.
In a unanimous judgment of the Supreme Court, Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba held that the Court of Appeal ought not to have made such order because it was not sought by any of the parties in the matter.
The Court of Appeal had issued an order of status quo antem bellum upon which the ADC exco under David Mark was de-recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
With the vacation of the order, David Mark and the other national officers are to be recognized as ADC leaders by the electoral body.
The convention produced the Tanimu Turaki-led factional national executives of the party.
Attention has shifted to the Supreme Court, which has fixed April 30 (today) for judgment in the leadership tussle within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba will resolve the appeal filed by the David Mark-led faction concerning the authentic leadership of the party.
Also on Thursday, the court is expected to determine the leadership dispute rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Two PDP factions—one led by Kabir Turaki and the other by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—are laying claim to the leadership of the party.
The Supreme Court had on April 22 reserved judgment in the ADC crisis to a date to be communicated to the parties involved in the tussle.
However, on Tuesday, the ADC formally wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, pleading for the quick delivery of judgment in the leadership tussle at the national level.
The party claimed it would suffer irreparable harm if judgment in the protracted battle was not delivered within the period allowed by the Electoral Act for fielding candidates for the 2027 general elections.
It stated in part: “Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 general elections.
“This would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice.”
At the April 22 hearing, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, who represented David Mark, urged the Supreme Court to allow the appeal, arguing that the apex court had earlier, on March 21, 2025, held that “no court has jurisdiction to entertain matters bordering on the internal affairs of political parties.”
During the hearing, Okutepa urged the apex court to hold that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
However, Robert Emukperu, SAN, who represented the first respondent, Nafiu Gombe, urged the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the lower court, which held that the suit was premature.
It will be recalled that a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal dismissed Mark’s appeal, ruling that it was premature and filed without leave of the trial court.
In the PDP matter, the first appeal, marked SC/CV/164/2026, stems from a decision of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who restrained the party from proceeding with its planned convention pending the determination of a suit filed by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.
On November 14, the court issued a final order restraining the PDP from conducting its national convention.
Justice Lifu held that Lamido was “unjustly denied” the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest for national chairman, in violation of the PDP constitution and internal regulations.
The Court of Appeal later upheld the decision on March 9, prompting the PDP to appeal.
The second appeal, SC/CV/166/2026, was filed by the PDP, its National Working Committee (NWC), and National Executive Committee (NEC).
It arose from a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, which stopped the party from holding its Ibadan national convention.
The Court of Appeal upheld that decision, agreeing that INEC should not validate the outcome of the convention.
After hearing all arguments, the Supreme Court reserved judgment, stating that the date would be communicated to the parties.
