The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has congratulated Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, on his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, while calling for greater inclusivity in Nigeria’s political space.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group described Hamzat’s victory at the APC primaries as a testament to competence and merit, urging political stakeholders to avoid religious bias in leadership selection.
Dr. Hamzat reportedly secured a landslide victory in the party’s primary election, polling 657,917 votes to defeat his closest rival, Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, who garnered one vote. Two other aspirants, Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor) and Samuel Ajose, had earlier withdrawn from the race.
MURIC praised the APC leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for endorsing Hamzat, expressing optimism that the victory would be replicated in the 2027 general elections.
Beyond the Lagos contest, the group extended congratulations to all successful candidates across political parties and at various levels, describing their victories as rewards for perseverance and dedication.
However, MURIC used the occasion to reiterate its stance on what it termed the marginalisation of Muslims in public office appointments. The organisation argued that competence should not be narrowly defined along religious lines, stressing that qualified individuals exist across all faiths.
It cautioned political leaders and “kingmakers” against what it described as the monopolisation of key public offices by Christians under the guise of merit, insisting that Muslims have demonstrated excellence in governance and administration.
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To support its position, MURIC cited the achievements of prominent Muslim public officials, including Professor Ishaq Oloyede of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and former Communications Minister, Professor Isa Pantami, noting that their legacies underscore the capability of Muslim professionals in leadership roles.
The group concluded that Hamzat’s emergence after what it described as a credible and rigorous primary process reinforces the argument that merit-based selection should transcend religious considerations in Nigeria’s democracy.
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