The All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted allegations suggesting that the party has intentions to Islamize Nigeria.

The APC deemed such claims as impossible, emphasizing that its zoning arrangement for the National Assembly leadership is driven by the need for religious balance.

The concerns surrounding the religious aspect of the leadership contest were heightened recently due to a statement made by the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. In a widely circulated video, El-Rufai defended his decision to appoint Muslims to key positions in the Kaduna State Government over Christians.

During a meeting with Islamic clerics on his final day in office, El-Rufai disclosed that Muslims voted for the APC in the last election, stating that the dominance of Islam in Kaduna State’s governance was here to stay. He expressed satisfaction that this trend had been successfully replicated at the national level with the election of former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as president, and Kashim Shettima as vice president.

In response to these developments, the Director of Publicity for the APC, Bala Ibrahim, stated in an interview that it is highly unlikely for anyone to Islamize Nigeria. Ibrahim explained that the party’s decision to zone principal officers to different regions of the country was driven by the aim of achieving a balance in terms of geography, faith, and convictions. The APC’s announcement that the Senate presidency would be zoned to the South-South region reflects the hope that a Christian candidate from that area would emerge as the Senate President.

“Again, when the party zoned the Deputy Senate presidency to the North-West, it is with the hope that a Muslim from that part of the country will emerge. If that is done, religion, sentiments and section have been balanced.” 

When questioned about the party’s course of action if the zoning arrangement fails and a Muslim is elected as the Senate President, Ibrahim responded that the APC would have limited options in such a scenario. He explained that it would imply the people’s will had prevailed, and therefore the party would have to accept the outcome. 

“If it fails, it means the choice is that of the senators and not the party. Don’t forget these senators are representatives of the people. It means they must have got the consent of the people they are representing to act in that manner, in which case, it will be seen as the wish of the people.

He however added, “Islamisation cannot go without the amendment of the constitution, and to do that, you will have to get the consent of the National Assembly including the 36 state Assemblies. According to the constitution, the chairman of the constitution review committee is the deputy Senate president.”

He stated that in the event of a Muslim becoming the Senate President, a Christian would be appointed as the Deputy, and this Christian would be responsible for leading the constitution review committee.

“So things are not as easy as they are being discussed in some of these pepper soup joints,” he noted.