As political realignments gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Ogun State chapter, has renewed its call for what it described as a “historic shift” in the political balance of the Southwest, urging the emergence of Muslim governors across the region.
The group, an Islamic human rights organisation, said the current political structure in which all sitting governors in the Southwest are Christians amounts to a form of imbalance that must be corrected in the interest of fairness and inclusion.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its State Chairman, Ustaadh Tajudeen Jimoh, and Secretary, Ambassador Olaleye Rasheed, the group maintained that its position was not rooted in zoning politics but in what it termed religious equity.
MURIC noted that while debates around zoning and rotational arrangements have dominated conversations in states such as Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti, the issue of religious representation has remained largely unaddressed.
According to the group, Muslims in the Southwest have demonstrated patience over successive electoral cycles, but now expect that their demographic strength should be reflected in the highest political offices in the region.
“While we acknowledge concerns about marginalisation within geopolitical zones, our focus goes beyond zoning. Our concern is inclusion and fairness,” the statement read in part.
MURIC urged political parties to take note of what it described as a “representation gap” and field credible Muslim candidates for governorship positions, stressing that such a move would strengthen electoral prospects.
The group also called on Muslim aspirants to be more politically active, mobilising support and positioning themselves as viable contenders rather than remaining passive in the political process.
In a broader appeal, MURIC cautioned against electoral malpractices, including vote-buying and intimidation, warning that such actions undermine democratic principles and threaten the credibility of elections.
“Any aspirant who resorts to threats or coercion has no place in a democratic system. Politics should not be reduced to a business venture driven by personal profit,” the statement added.
The organisation, however, emphasised that its position should not be interpreted as antagonistic to other religious groups, particularly Christians in the region.
It described both Islam and Christianity as partners in the quest for national development, insisting that supporting a competent Muslim candidate would not disadvantage any group but would promote fairness and balance.
MURIC maintained that the coming months leading to the 2027 elections would be critical in shaping political alignments in the Southwest, as stakeholders weigh issues of equity, competence and representation.
The group posed a lingering question: whether political parties would respond to what it called a growing demand for inclusion, or allow existing patterns to persist.
Signed:
Ustaadh Tajudeen Jimoh Alao
Chairman, MURIC, Ogun State Chapter
Ambassador Olaleye Rasheed Damilare
Secretary, MURIC, Ogun State Chapter
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