An assistant pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Pastor Remmy Hazzan, has defended the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s decision to retain its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying the arrangement does not pose any threat to Christians or Nigeria’s religious balance.
Hazzan, who is also 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 criticisms that the APC’s presidential ticket undermines the interests of Christians, insisting that President Bola Tinubu has consistently demonstrated religious tolerance.
“I belong to the All Progressives Congress. I believe that we are not religious bigots. We do not market anything that favours one religion or threatens the existence of another,” Hazzan said. The cleric pointed to the President’s marriage to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, as evidence of his commitment to religious inclusiveness.
“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 for many years, it speaks to his level of religious tolerance, and we believe that same spirit reflects in his leadership,” he added.
Addressing concerns over the Muslim-Muslim ticket, Hazzan argued that the APC’s decision was based on political realities rather than religious considerations. According to him, the emergence of a Southern Muslim as the presidential candidate of a major political party created a unique political situation that required a strategic approach.
He maintained that the party’s decision was not a sign that Christians were politically insignificant, stressing that the APC had simply adopted what it considered the most practical formula for electoral success.
“This is the first time a Southern Muslim has emerged as the candidate of a major political party. During previous elections involving Southern Christian candidates, there was little resistance to having a Northern Muslim as running mate.
This situation is different,” he explained. Hazzan said selecting a Northern Christian running mate would have required extensive political persuasion within the party and among Northern Muslim voters, adding that the choice was not driven by any disregard for Christianity. “It took courage for President Bola Tinubu to make that decision. It was not because there was any disrespect for the Christian faith,” he said.
The RCCG pastor also argued that competence, rather than religion, should determine who occupies public office.
“The best of us should rule the rest of us, not the worst ruling the best. Christians should present their best candidates, Muslims should do the same, and even adherents of traditional religion should present capable people. Leadership should be based on merit,” he stated.
Commenting on the Tinubu administration’s performance after three years in office, Hazzan acknowledged that government reforms initially brought economic hardship but said the country was beginning to witness signs of recovery.
“The current administration has done so much. We are gradually reaching a point of equilibrium, and it is becoming clearer that those difficult decisions were necessary if Nigeria is to return to prosperity. The President should be allowed to complete the work he started,” he said.
On the role of Christians in politics, Hazzan urged believers to become more actively involved in governance rather than viewing politics as incompatible with their faith.
He argued that the long-standing belief that politics is too dirty for Christians had discouraged many qualified people from participating in public service.
“For a long time, the church was made to believe that politics is dirty and only dirty people should participate. But if something is dirty, it needs cleaning, and that cleaning is best done from within,” he said.
The cleric further rejected the notion that politics inevitably corrupts Christians, urging public office holders to remain guided by their moral values and resist the temptations associated with political power.