Interfaith Coalition Conference, an Inter-religious group, has called on all political parties to opt for a religiously balanced ticket in the choice of a candidate’s running mate.
ICC, on Thursday in Abuja during a press briefing, said parties should discourage Muslim-Muslim and Christian-Christian ticket.

ICC co-chairman Daniel Kadzai said the call for Muslim-Christian or Christian-Muslim ticket would bring about balance, equity and fairness in Nigeria’s democratic process.

“We need leaders that will take responsibility. We have credible people in all the tribes and religions. This issue of same religion ticket by some political parties should be reviewed,” said the interfaith coalition leader. “If we want to have a peaceful political process, why can’t the parties have a religious balance of the whole process?”

Mr Kadzai, former national president of the Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), said a balanced ticket would help manage the country’s diversity.

“The major challenge we are having in this country is lack of equity and fairness, the nation is fast drifting and we can’t fold our hands and allow the country to derail. We need to manage our diversity, chart the way forward for peace, politics is not about acrimony or fighting, politics is about choice of credible people who can represent this nation,” he added.

According to Mr Kadzai, Nigeria needs to be saved “from collapse.”

“We are in a political dispensation and the transition process has started and we need to bring our people together,” he stressed, adding that “we are tired of the killings and kidnappings going on in the country.”

(NAN)