A former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly and senior pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Remmy Hazzan, has defended the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s decision to retain its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket for the 2027 general election, saying the arrangement poses no threat to Nigeria’s religious harmony.
Hazzan, who serves as an Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province in the RCCG and is a member of the APC, made the remarks on Monday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.
He dismissed claims that the APC’s ticket marginalises Christians, insisting the ruling party has never promoted religious bigotry or favoured one faith over another.
“I belong to the All Progressives Congress. I believe we are not religious bigots. We do not in any way promote anything that favours one religion or threatens the existence of another,” he said.
Hazzan pointed to President Bola Tinubu’s marriage to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, an ordained pastor in the RCCG, as evidence of the president’s commitment to religious tolerance.
“The wife of the president is an ordained pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. If such a man has lived with his Christian wife, who is an ordained pastor, throughout their marriage, it speaks to his level of religious tolerance. We believe that same disposition will continue to reflect in his leadership of Nigeria,” he stated.
Responding to criticisms of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, Hazzan argued that the decision was based on political realities rather than religious considerations.
According to him, the party adopted the arrangement to address prevailing political circumstances, stressing that fears that Christianity would be endangered under the current administration have not materialised.
“The reasons for the candidature of the President and his vice-presidential candidate were largely to address certain political exigencies. The claim that another religion is being threatened has not manifested in any way. That is why we have no difficulty marketing the same ticket in 2027,” he said.
The cleric also rejected suggestions that the APC regarded Christian voters as politically insignificant because of its choice of candidates.
He explained that the emergence of a Southern Muslim as the presidential candidate of a major political party was unprecedented in Nigeria’s political history and required a different electoral strategy.
“Nobody has said the Christian voting bloc is insignificant. This is the first time a Southern Muslim has emerged as the presidential candidate of a major political party in Nigeria,” Hazzan said.
He recalled that when Southern Christians previously occupied the presidential ticket, Northern Muslim political support for Muslim running mates was largely unquestioned.
However, he argued that selecting a Northern Christian as running mate for a Southern Muslim presidential candidate would have required extensive political persuasion.
“This is the first time we are having a Southern Muslim. During the period Southern Christians emerged as presidential candidates, Northern Muslims did not have any problem producing a Muslim running mate. This time, choosing a Northern Christian would have required a lot of convincing among Northern Muslim voters to assure them there was no religious bias,” he explained.
Hazzan maintained that the APC’s decision was neither an attempt to exclude Christians nor a sign of disrespect for the Christian faith.
“It took courage for President Bola Tinubu to make that decision. There is always a way out of difficult political situations, and that was the path chosen. It was never because of any disregard for Christianity,” he added.
The former lawmaker further argued that competence should remain the overriding consideration in choosing leaders, regardless of religious affiliation.
“The best of us should govern the rest of us, not the worst ruling the best. Christians should present their best. Muslims should present their best. Even adherents of traditional religion should present their best. When the best people emerge from every group, then only the most qualified will lead the nation,” he said.
Assessing the Tinubu administration after three years in office, Hazzan acknowledged that the government’s economic reforms had imposed hardships on Nigerians but expressed confidence that the country was beginning to experience the benefits of those policies.
“The current administration has done so much, and I believe we are gradually reaching a point of equilibrium. It is becoming clearer that those difficult periods were necessary if Nigeria is to return to prosperity. The President should be allowed to complete the work he has started,” he said.
On the participation of Christians in politics, Hazzan challenged the long-standing belief that politics is incompatible with Christian values, urging believers to become more actively involved in governance.
“For too long, the church believed politics was dirty and should be left to dirty people. But when something is dirty, it needs cleaning, and those with clean minds are best suited to do that. You clean better from within than from outside,” he said.
He also rejected the notion that political office inevitably corrupts Christians, insisting that believers could participate in governance without compromising their faith.
“You must remain conscious of the moral values you have embraced as a Christian and ensure that the privileges of public office do not make you forget your foundation,” Hazzan added.
