Former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro says President Bola Tinubu lost Lagos in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections because the Muslim-Muslim ticket was “weaponized” against him. In interviews reported by multiple outlets, Obanikoro states that the outcome in Lagos was not primarily due to Peter Obi’s candidacy, but instead to voter concerns about what Tinubu’s presidency would look like. He argues that people feared Christians might be sidelined in Nigeria’s political leadership, a fear he says was tied to the faith pairing of the ticket. Obanikoro contends that those concerns proved unfounded, saying Tinubu is not a “religious bigot” and that his personal and public associations do not support the notion of favoring one religion over another. He points to Tinubu’s wife being a pastor, his son being a Christian, and noting that Tinubu’s family background includes both Muslim and Christian affiliations. Obanikoro also cites that many members of Tinubu’s cabinet are Christians, presenting this as evidence that the fears raised during the campaign were not accurate. The accounts attribute these views to comments made on the “Mic On” podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye.