IBADAN, NIGERIA — The lawmaker representing Saki West State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Shittu, has sparked widespread outrage after calling on Muslims in the state to reject governorship candidates who are Christians in the 2027 election, warning that Islam would suffer if a Christian is elected governor.
Shittu, a member of the All Progressives Congress, made the call in a video circulating on social media, where he urged Muslim voters to support Muslim candidates ahead of the poll. He specifically appealed to Muslims to back candidates presented by the APC, while asking them not to vote for any political party that fields a Christian candidate for governor.
“Support all our Muslim candidates in APC. Any political party with a Christian guber candidate must not be voted for. If such a person is voted in, Islam would suffer,” Shittu said in the video.
In another part of the clip, the lawmaker said: “Let us not vote for any party that presents a Christian candidate. Christians in government punish us because we are Muslims.”
The comments have generated widespread reactions across social media, with many Nigerians condemning the lawmaker for promoting religious divisiveness and bigotry. Critics described his remarks as irresponsible and capable of inflaming religious tensions in a state known for its relative peace and coexistence among people of different faiths.
Governor Seyi Makinde, a Christian and member of the Peoples Democratic Party, has repeatedly said religion should not determine who succeeds him in 2027. The governor has maintained that competence, loyalty to Oyo State, and continuity in governance should guide the choice of his successor.
In February, Makinde said the person who would succeed him would be selected based on competence and loyalty to the state rather than loyalty to him personally. “I have made up my mind that whoever would emerge as my successor would be based on competence and loyalty to Oyo State, not to Seyi Makinde,” he said.
The governor also addressed the growing demand in some quarters for a Muslim to succeed him, saying Oyo State had a long history of peaceful relations between people of different faiths. “For us in Oyo State, religion is not an issue. We have all religions in our various families, and we have always coexisted peacefully,” he stated.
Shittu’s position, however, places the religious question at the centre of the emerging political contest. His comments come amid calls from some Muslim groups for a Muslim to take over from Makinde after the completion of his two terms. The Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars urged Makinde in May to support a competent Muslim candidate for the 2027 governorship election, arguing that Muslims had played an important role in his electoral victories in 2019 and 2023.
Another group, the Islamic Coordination Council of Oyo State, also argued that it was the turn of a Muslim to occupy the Agodi Government House in 2027, citing the religious backgrounds of previous governors.
However, the debate has not been limited to calls for a Muslim governor. Oyo State has had governors from both major religious backgrounds since the return to democratic rule in 1999. Lam Adesina, Rashidi Ladoja, and Abiola Ajimobi were Muslims, while Adebayo Alao-Akala and Seyi Makinde were Christians. The state’s political history has therefore included changes in religious identity among those occupying the governorship position.
Makinde’s administration has also repeatedly highlighted religious balance in government appointments. The governor previously said his administration had made efforts to ensure that Christians and Muslims were represented in political appointments, and that Muslims, Christians, and traditional worshippers would receive equal treatment from his government.
The latest controversy involving Shittu is not the first time the lawmaker has attracted attention over his public statements. In January 2026, the Oyo State House of Assembly rejected an apology tendered by Shittu following allegations he made against the leadership of the legislature. The Assembly’s Ethics and Privileges Committee had reviewed the matter after the statements circulated widely on social media, and the House subsequently described the apology as inadequate.
Political analysts have warned that the injection of religion into the 2027 governorship contest could undermine the peace and stability of Oyo State. They urged political leaders to focus on issues of competence, development, and good governance rather than exploiting religious sentiments for political gain. For now, Shittu’s comments have ignited a debate that is likely to intensify as the election approaches.
