By Our Correspondent
Former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja, has said he visited churches during the 2023 presidential election campaign to address concerns among Christians over the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
Onoja made the disclosure during an interview aired on the official YouTube channel of SYMFONI on Friday, where he reflected on the campaign strategies adopted ahead of the presidential election.
He said the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket generated concerns in some Christian communities, prompting him and other party members to engage directly with church congregations to explain the party’s position and reassure voters.
According to him, the outreach focused on addressing public concerns and encouraging voters to assess the presidential candidate based on his leadership qualities rather than assumptions about his religious affiliation.
“In the last election for Mr. President, I visited churches because the Muslim-Muslim ticket was working heavily against us. But we convinced our people that Mr. President is not who they think he is. He might be a Muslim, but he has a wife who is a Christian and a pastor,” Onoja said.
He added that engaging directly with church members provided an opportunity to respond to questions, clarify misconceptions, and encourage informed participation in the electoral process.
Onoja also stressed the importance of dialogue and respectful engagement during elections, expressing the view that open conversations with voters could help address misunderstandings and build public confidence in the democratic process.
