We’ll vote against any party with unbalanced ticket —Ondo Muslims

Ahead of the governorship election in Ondo State, Muslims in the state, on Monday, threatened to mobilise against any political party that fails to fly a balanced ticket for the November 26 governorship election.

The Muslims, under the aegis of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), gave this warning yesterday during a press conference. They also decried marginalisation in the politics of the state.

Speaking during the press conference, state chairman of NSCIA, Habibullah Akinpelumi, said “any political party that flies anything less than a balanced ticket may regret its decision.”

Akinpelumi noted that despite the voting strength of Muslims in the state, with over 1.5 million Muslims and 500,000 eligible voters, Muslims have always been victims of political marginalisation.

He said “Today, the Muslim community as a whole can only account for less than two per cent of the engine room that drives the project called Ondo State. Muslims have been politically eliminated from the driving force of the state.”

The NSCIA chairman said Muslims had never been appointed as the Chief Judge, Head of Service, chairman of relevant parastatals and the governor of the state, despite their qualifications.

He, however, said their stand had been communicated to all political parties participating in the election with a pledge  to vehemently deliver votes for any party which considers their agitation ahead of the November 26 governorship election.

The Islamic Council, however, warned that any political arrangement short of balanced ticket would be rejected.

“We will dare any political party that will produce a Christian-Christian ticket. We will aggressively mobilise the consolidated Muslim Ummah: we will not accept anything less than a balanced ticket,” he said.