People Were Afraid’ — Obanikoro Reveals Why Tinubu Lost Lagos In 2023

Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has attributed President Bola Tinubu’s loss in Lagos during the 2023 presidential election to concerns over the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

Speaking on Mic On, a podcast hosted by Channels Television journalist Seun Okinbaloye, Obanikoro argued that the outcome in Lagos was driven more by religious concerns than by the popularity of Labour Party candidate Peter Obi.

According to the former minister, many voters were apprehensive about the implications of having both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates as Muslims, a perception he believes ultimately affected Tinubu’s performance in his home state.

“Let me tell you, what defeated us in Lagos was the Muslim-Muslim ticket, not Peter Obi. People were afraid because they didn’t know what Tinubu’s presidency would look like,” Obanikoro said.

He maintained that the fears proved unfounded, insisting that Tinubu’s administration has not discriminated against Christians.

“People thought it was a situation where Christians in Nigeria would be relegated, and that has been defeated because Tinubu is a Muslim, but he is not a religious bigot who will carry one religion over another,” he stated.

Obanikoro also pointed to Tinubu’s family and appointments as evidence of what he described as the president’s inclusive approach.

“His wife is a pastor. His son, Seyi, is a Christian. He was born a Muslim. He became a Christian. Most of the people in his cabinet are Christians,” he added.

The APC’s decision to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2023 presidential election sparked widespread debate after Tinubu selected former Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, also a Muslim, as his running mate.

While the ruling party defended the choice as one based on competence and electoral strategy, critics argued that it failed to reflect Nigeria’s religious diversity and could alienate sections of the electorate.