2027: MURIC Demands Muslim Governorship Candidates in South-West

MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola

2027: MURIC Demands Muslim Governorship Candidates in South-West

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on major political parties in Nigeria to ensure the emergence of Muslim governorship candidates in South-West states ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that parties that ignore the demand may lose support from Muslim voters.

The organisation made the call in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, where it directly addressed leading political parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and other registered parties.

MURIC specifically urged political parties to consider Muslim candidates in Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, and Ondo States, insisting that Muslims should not be excluded from the race for governorship positions in the South-West geopolitical zone.

The group argued that Muslims constitute a significant population in the South-West and deserve fair representation in elective offices, particularly at the governorship level. It maintained that there are qualified Muslim politicians capable of leading the affected states and contributing to good governance.

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MURIC also alleged that the current political arrangement in the South-West reflects what it described as religious imbalance, noting that governors in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Osun States are currently Christians. According to the group, this situation highlights what it considers limited political inclusion of Muslims in top leadership positions in the region.

The organisation claimed that since the 2023 general elections, Muslims in the South-West have been largely excluded from governorship positions. In its statement, MURIC said, “Although Muslims constitute the majority in Yorubaland, the political leadership space of the region has been hijacked by Yoruba Christians since 2023.” It added that Muslims have been reduced to political spectators in key electoral outcomes, stressing the need for what it described as equitable political participation and inclusion.

MURIC further stated that none of the 17 Southern states in Nigeria currently has a Muslim governor, describing the development as politically significant. The group argued that this reality contradicts claims of religious domination narratives in Nigeria’s political space. It also dismissed allegations of Islamisation of the country, describing such claims as “false and baseless propaganda.”

The statement has added to ongoing political conversations ahead of the 2027 general elections, especially around issues of zoning arrangements, religious balance, and power-sharing agreements. Political analysts say such debates often intensify during election cycles, particularly in diverse regions like the South-West where both Islam and Christianity influence voter behaviour and party strategies. Political parties are expected to consider factors such as electoral strength, internal zoning arrangements, and demographic realities as they prepare for candidate selection.