A senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State, Daniel Musa, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the decision by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni to schedule a key party meeting on a Sunday morning, a time traditionally set aside for Christian worship.
Speaking to journalists in Jalingo on Friday, Musa criticized the timing of the North East zonal consultative meeting, which is set to take place at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. He described the move as potentially marginalizing the Christian members of the party in the region and warned that such insensitivity could harm the party’s image and internal cohesion.
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Musa, who holds a significant position within the Taraba State chapter of the APC, said the decision to convene the meeting on a Sunday morning “sends dangerous signals” and could be interpreted as either a deliberate exclusion or a disregard for Christian members’ religious obligations.
“This timing is problematic. It clashes with Sunday church services, which is a central aspect of life for Christian members,” he stated. “Such scheduling either reflects a lack of sensitivity or a deliberate exclusion, neither of which is acceptable.”
He further noted that if the issue is not addressed and the meeting remains scheduled for that time, it could strengthen negative perceptions about the APC being biased towards a particular religious group. Musa argued that this could undermine efforts to present the party as inclusive and representative of all Nigerians, regardless of faith.
“If it is not corrected immediately, it will suggest that the APC has no regard for its Christian members in the region. That would reinforce the perception that the party is biased, which is not good for our unity or electoral prospects,” he warned.
The APC chieftain urged the party leadership, especially Governor Buni and the North East zonal leadership, to consider the religious diversity of Nigeria when making decisions that affect party members across different faiths. He emphasized the need to avoid actions that could appear discriminatory or indifferent to the religious practices of a significant segment of the party’s support base.
Musa also highlighted what he sees as a clear double standard in religious accommodation. He argued that no one would consider organizing such a politically significant meeting during Muslim Friday prayers, pointing out the importance of extending the same respect to Christian worship times.
“It would be inconceivable to schedule a comparable meeting during Friday Juma’ah prayers,” Musa said. “That shows that this is not just about scheduling but about the kind of respect we give to all faiths. The APC is already battling a perception problem as a party for a particular religion. We must be cautious not to validate that view with our actions.”
He concluded by calling on the zonal leadership of the APC to act swiftly to avoid alienating any segment of the party’s membership. According to him, changing the time of the meeting to a more neutral hour would demonstrate the party’s commitment to fairness, unity, and religious inclusiveness.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official response from Governor Buni or the APC zonal leadership addressing the concerns raised by Musa. The meeting in question remains scheduled for Sunday morning.
The controversy comes at a time when the APC continues to navigate concerns about religious representation and balance within its ranks, particularly in regions with diverse religious demographics. Analysts say how the party responds to this complaint may affect its standing with Christian constituents in the North East and beyond.
