The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Ogun State Chapter has intensified calls for what it described as a necessary power shift in Southwest Nigeria, urged political stakeholders to ensure fair representation of Muslims in the selection of governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement released on Friday, the group appealed for justice, equity, and inclusiveness across Ogun State, Lagos State, Oyo State, Osun State, Ekiti State, and Ondo State, where it claimed political leadership has largely been dominated by Christian candidates.
The statement was signed by the State Chairman, Ustaadh Tajudeen Jimoh Alao, and made public by the State Secretary, Ambassador Olaleye Rasheed Damilare.
MURIC argued that the current political landscape in the region reflects an imbalance that should be corrected in the interest of fairness and peaceful coexistence.
“In Ogun State, where leadership is currently under a Christian governor, justice and equity require that a Muslim should be given the opportunity to be the next governor. This is not a demand born out of bias, but a call for inclusiveness and equal representation,” the group stated.
The organisation also pointed to Lagos State, noting that since the tenure of former governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, the state has experienced more than a decade of Christian leadership. It maintained that fairness demanded a new direction that accommodates Muslim leadership.
Similarly, MURIC highlighted Oyo State as another state where it believed a more balanced political arrangement should be considered as the next election cycle approaches.
The group rejected allegations that its position is politically motivated or driven by hidden interests, insisting that it is neither sponsored nor aligned with any political actor.
“We are not enemies of the government. We are not enemies of our Christian brothers and sisters. What we stand for is simple and universal: justice, fairness, and peaceful coexistence,” the statement read.
MURIC further cautioned against interpreting its advocacy as religious agitation, stressing that its demands are rooted in the broader principles of equity and inclusive governance.
According to the group, any society that fails to recognise and accommodate the rights of all its people risks undermining peace and development.
It therefore urged political parties, leaders, and citizens across the Southwest to rise above what it described as sentiments, manipulation, and emotional blackmail, and to allow fairness and justice to guide decisions on candidate selection.
The organisation maintained that only through equitable representation can the region achieve lasting peace, unity, and sustainable development ahead of the 2027 general elections.
