PRESIDENCY DISMISSES CLAIM OF ₦500BN BUDGET TO MOBILISE NORTHERN RELIGIOUS LEADERS FOR MUSLIM-MUSLIM TICKET

The Nigerian presidency has dismissed allegations that ₦500 billion was budgeted to mobilise religious and traditional leaders in northern Nigeria to support the return of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

The claim was made by an Islamic cleric, Sanusi Khalil, in a viral video circulating on social media. In the video, the cleric alleged that unnamed political actors had set aside ₦500 billion to persuade Muslim leaders and traditional rulers across northern Nigeria to campaign for the ticket.

Speaking in Hausa during a gathering, Khalil claimed he was approached to participate in the alleged project but declined, insisting he would not use his religious position to promote political interests.

“They have budgeted ₦500 billion to mobilise mallams and traditional rulers so they can campaign for them,” the cleric reportedly said in the video, adding that he warned those involved not to approach him again with such an offer.

Khalil also alleged that a separate budget was earmarked to influence Christian leaders for the same purpose.

The claim appeared to reference the possible re-election campaign of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, who contested and won the 2023 Nigerian presidential election on a controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket.

However, reacting to the allegation, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga dismissed the claim outright, describing it as completely false.

“Whoever believes that can believe anything, including tales by moonlight,” Onanuga said while responding to enquiries about the cleric’s statement.

The Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the ruling All Progressives Congress during the 2023 election generated significant controversy at the time, particularly among Christian groups and political opponents who argued that the arrangement undermined Nigeria’s religious balance.

Supporters of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, were among the most vocal critics of the ticket during the election campaign.

Despite the presidency’s dismissal of the claim, the viral video has sparked debate on social media, highlighting the continuing sensitivity surrounding religion and politics in Nigeria’s electoral landscape as discussions about the 2027 general elections gradually begin to intensify.