‘Islam will suffer’ — APC lawmaker tells supporters to reject Christian guber candidates in Oyo

Shittu Ibraheem, lawmaker representing Saki west in the Oyo state house of assembly, has told his supporters and Muslim leaders in his constituency to reject Christian candidates in the 2027 Oyo governorship election.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker spoke in a viral video, which circulated on Monday via social media, saying Islam would “suffer” if another Christian becomes governor of the state after Seyi Makinde.

“That’s why we told our father that he must stand by our candidates that are Muslims,” the lawmaker said.

“Anyone that picks a Christian as governor, please let’s reject it and not vote for him because if we vote for them, Islam will suffer.”

While making a veiled reference to Makinde, the lawmaker said, “He is a Christian and we are Muslim, we know the kind of sufferings he has meted out to us”.

In May, Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), endorsed Bimbo Adekanmbi, the governorship candidate of the party, as his preferred successor.

Adekanmbi is a Christian and a former commissioner for finance in the state under Abiola Ajimobi, a Muslim who handed over to Makinde.

Sharafadeen Alli, the APC candidate, and Oriyomi Hamzat, the Accord candidate, who are major contenders in the race, are Muslims.