The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, has called for fairness in appointments by governors of the six South-West states, saying it is determined to extract a commitment to that effect from all governorship candidates in the region for the 2027 general election.

In a statement on Friday signed by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, MPAC noted that it has “the documented pattern of treatment meted out to Muslims by successive administrations in the region.”

The statement noted that the rights guaranteed under Section 38, Section 42 and Section 24(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution are not privileges to be granted at the discretion of elected officials, but enforceable rights that should be reflected in governance, public policy and institutional practices.

According to MPAC, the composition of cabinets constituted by the six South-West governors reflects a pattern of imbalance against Muslims despite their significant presence within the electorate.

Citing figures from each state, it pointed out that in Lagos State, 49 Christian commissioners were appointed compared with 14 Muslims. In Ogun State, MPAC put the figures at 16 Christian commissioners and four Muslim commissioners. It stated that Oyo appointed 10 Christian commissioners and six Muslims, while Osun appointed 17 Christians and seven Muslims.

The organisation described the record in Ekiti State as the widest in disparity, with 24 Christian commissioners and one Muslim.

In Ondo, MPAC said the ratio stood at 15 Christian commissioners to two Muslims under the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, adding that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa later constituted a six-member cabinet without a Muslim commissioner.

According to the organisation, the figures were compiled by Muslim advocacy groups and align with findings from its own research.

It alleged that Muslims experience similar under-representation on boards, parastatals, judicial appointments, as well as in the conferment of traditional and civic honours.

The organisation said every governorship candidate seeking the votes of Muslims in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti should publicly commit to specific measures that, in its view, would address the issues it raised.

It said the commitments should be “public, specific and binding, not as campaign rhetoric, but as measurable pledges against which their conduct in office will be assessed.”

It called on candidates to commit to “constituting a cabinet, boards and parastatal leadership that reflect the demographic weight of the Muslim population in their states,” alongside commissioning “an independent audit of appointments made over the preceding 10 years as a baseline.” (Guardian)