RismadarVoice Reporters, July 22, 2026
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has expressed optimism that Nigeria will one day elect a president and vice president on a Christian-Christian ticket, stressing that the country’s Constitution does not mandate religious balancing in political appointments or electoral tickets.
The governor made the remarks on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today while responding to criticism from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over issues relating to political representation.
Sule dismissed the criticism as a normal part of opposition politics, saying it was expected that political rivals would challenge the positions of those in government.
“I think it is normal for Senator Kwankwaso, whom I respect a lot, to say that because he’s in the opposition. He cannot say anything good. It is expected of him to say that,” he said.
The governor maintained that the provisions of the 1999 Constitution emphasise inclusiveness and the federal character principle without making religion a constitutional requirement for political offices.
According to him, Sections 14(3) and 15 of the Constitution focus on equitable representation and national unity but contain no provision requiring religious balancing.
“There is no place where it talks about religion. Section 14 didn’t talk about religion. Section 15 did not talk about religion,” Sule stated.
He pointed to the electoral victories of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2023 presidential election, as well as the late Chief MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe’s Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 1993 presidential election, as evidence that voters can support candidates based on factors other than religion.
“You can see both elections have been clear that the Muslim-Muslim ticket has won. I pray that one day Nigeria will have a Christian-Christian ticket, and it will win; that’s what I pray to see,” he said.
Sule, however, stressed that his decision to retain Emmanuel Akabe, a Christian, as deputy governor of Nasarawa State was based on competence rather than religious considerations.
“I have always had a Christian as a deputy, Emmanuel Akabe. We thought it was important because Emmanuel Akabe is competent, and our state is different from Nigeria,” he added.
The governor further noted that political dynamics vary across the country, citing states such as Enugu and Bayelsa, where Christian-Christian leadership arrangements have operated without generating significant public debate.
