Sheikh Jingir Defends Muslim-Muslim Ticket Backing, Cites Tinubu’s Development Record
Islamic cleric Sheikh Muhammad Sani Yahya Jingir has further defended his continued support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that his position is rooted in what he described as tangible development recorded under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Jingir, National Chairman of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), popularly known as Izala, spoke at the Northern Muslims Intellectuals Forum in Jigawa State, where he addressed the controversy that trailed comments he made earlier during a visit to Kano. According to the cleric, when questioned about his continued backing of the Tinubu administration, he explained that his support was tied specifically to the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement and the progress he believes the president has delivered, rather than any personal benefit derived from the relationship.
He noted that his remarks in Kano had drawn significant opposition, prompting him to call on fellow Islamic scholars to intensify efforts to explain and defend the position to the wider public. Jingir maintained that his advocacy for a same-faith presidential ticket predates Tinubu’s emergence as president, describing it as a longstanding personal conviction shaped by what he characterized as historical suffering endured by Muslim leaders in Nigeria, including references to past political assassinations and alleged marginalization of Muslims in parts of Plateau State.
In a separate interview with BBC Hausa, Jingir doubled down further, stating he had no regrets over his remarks and would continue advocating for the arrangement regardless of criticism. He rejected suggestions that his position amounted to campaigning on Tinubu’s behalf, insisting instead that he was speaking strictly as a religious leader exercising his right to guide his followers on issues he considers important to their faith.
The cleric’s comments have continued to generate fierce backlash from various quarters. Prominent APC chieftain Femi Fani-Kayode publicly criticized Jingir’s remarks, warning that they could alienate Christian voters and damage the electoral prospects of Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of 2027. Fani-Kayode further alleged that Jingir may be working against the very ticket he claims to support, describing his comments as reckless and potentially damaging to the administration’s re-election chances. The Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by Tinubu and Shettima in 2023, the first such arrangement since the 1993 pairing of Chief MKO Abiola and Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, has remained one of the most contentious issues in Nigerian politics since its adoption.
Beyond the political backlash, Jingir’s comments have also drawn condemnation from human rights advocates, with the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission previously calling for his arrest and prosecution over remarks the commission characterized as inflammatory and divisive. Jingir, for his part, has consistently denied that his comments amount to hate speech, maintaining that he has merely encouraged Muslims to exercise their constitutional right to vote according to their convictions.
As Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general election, the debate ignited by Jingir’s remarks continues to reflect the deep and persistent sensitivities surrounding religion’s role in the country’s political calculations.
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