This study examines the reactions of the Christian community in Nigeria to the “Muslim–Muslim ticket” of the ruling All Progressive Congress in the 2023 general elections, the context of their reactions, and their implications for interreligious relations, as well as peacebuilding and development in Nigeria. Using both primary and secondary data, it was found that the Christian community perceived the “Muslim–Muslim ticket” of the All Progressives Congress as a strategy to Islamise Nigeria and exclude them from the governance of Nigeria. This deepened a religious voting pattern during the elections and deteriorated the fragile Christian–Muslim relations in Nigeria. The voting pattern also prevented thorough engagement between the electorate and politicians seeking votes. Thus, the article argues that the “Muslim–Muslim ticket” and the reaction of the Christian community will not only affect peacebuilding but also the development of the Nigerian State. It recommends programmatic response to rebuilding the Christian–Muslim relationship in Nigeria.
AkhaineS.AlabiA. (2018). 2019 Guber: Kaduna on edge over El-Rufai’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket. The Guardian, Nov. 4.
5.
AshindorbeK.OwonikokoB. S. (2017). Religion, radicalisation and terrorism. In P. Adejoh & W. Adisa (Eds.), Terrorism and counterterrorism war in Nigeria: Essays in honour of Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai. Lagos University Press.
6.
BabalolaD. (2020). Ethno-religious voting in Nigeria: Interrogating voting pattern in the 2019 elections. The Roundtable, 109(4), 377–385. https://doi.org/10.1080/00358533.2020.1788763
7.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2022). Public address to Ogun State delegated on why they should vote for him.
8.
DanjiboD. N.AshindorbeK.OwonikokoS. B. (2024). Democracy, regionalism and voting pattern in Nigeria’s fourth republic, 1999–2023. Taiwan Journal of Democracy, 20(2), 123–143.
9.
Falola, T (1998). Violence in Nigeria: The Crisis of Religious Politics and Secular Ideologies. University of Rochester.
10.
Federal Government of Nigeria. (1999). 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with Amendments.
HallwardM. C. (2008). Situating the “secular”: Negotiating the boundary between religion and politics. International Political Sociology, 2(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-5687.2007.00030.x
13.
IkeJ. T. (2022). ‘Its’ like being a Christian is tantamount to victimisation’: A Qualitative study of Christian experiences and perceptions of insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria. Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1), 2071032. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2022.2071032
IroanusiQ. E.(2022). 2023: How we'll resist APC's Muslim-Muslim Ticket—Dogara, Babachir Lawal. July 29. Available at www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/545739-2023-how-well-resist-apc-muslim-muslim-ticket-dogara-babachir-lawal.html?tztc=1
NolteI.JonesR.TaiyariK.OcchialiG. (2016). Exploring survey data for historical and anthropological research: Muslim-Christian relations in south-west Nigeria. African Affairs, 115(460), 541–561.
OgunyemiI. (2022). Again, PFN reject Muslim-Muslim ticket, says it is CAN’s Position. August 18. Available at www.thefreelibrary.com/Again%2C+PFN+Rejects+Muslim-Muslim+Ticket%2C+Says+It%27s+CAN%27s+Position.-a0714316916
OnapajoH. (2016). Politics and the pulpit: The rise and decline of religion in Nigeria’s 2015 presidential elections. Journal of African Elections, 15(2), 112–135. https://doi.org/10.20940/JAE/2016/v15i2a6
OwonikokoB. S. (2020). Against the run of play: how an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria. Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 38(4), 644–646. https://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2020.1820199
29.
PeelJ. D. Y. (2016). Christianity, Islam and Orisa-Religion: Three Traditions in Comparison and Interaction. University of California Press.
