The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has advised political parties seeking the votes of Muslims in the South-West to present Muslims as their candidates in the 2027 general elections.
MURIC specifically advised political parties such as All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress, Social Democratic Party and others to present Muslims as gubernatorial candidates in Oyo, Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun and Ondo states.
The organisation added that political parties that fail to field Muslims as their candidates should not expect votes from the Muslims in the region.
MURIC made its position known in a statement signed by Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The group maintained that Muslims constitute majority in the region, adding that there are many qualified Muslims to occupy governorship offices in the concerned states.
The statement pointed out that current governors in Oyo, Lagos, Ogun and Osun are Christians.
He added that it is now time for Muslims to take up the positions.
”Although Muslims constitute the majority in Yorubaland, the political leadership space of the region has been hijacked by Yoruba Christians since 2023.
“No single space was left for Yoruba Muslims. Sanwo-Olu seized Lagos, Abiodun commandeered Ogun, Makinde took Oyo by storm while Adeleke wrestled Osun from Isiaka Oyetola.
“It was exclusivity par excellence with Muslims as mere onlookers while our common patrimony was shared behind our backs.
“That was not all. Ekiti and Ondo States succumbed easily to Christian governors. Of course that was not a surprise because Muslims are just between 35 and 40% in those two states.
“In essence, today, the whole of Southern Nigeria, with 17 states, has no single Muslim governor. Yet these are the same people who are spreading the false, fictitious and baseless propaganda of Islamisation of Nigeria,” the statement said.
