Islamic cleric and leader of the Izala Scholars Council, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has said he has no regret over his recent support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, despite the criticism his position has generated.
Jingir made the remarks in an interview with BBC Hausa monitored by our correspondent on Wednesday, insisting that his position was not politically motivated or aimed at campaigning for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The cleric said his stance was based on what he described as his responsibility as a Muslim and maintained that he would continue to encourage Muslims to support a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“I will continue to support and encourage the Muslim-Muslim ticket. What they say would not stop me. They started it; at a point, we suffered in their hands,” he alleged.
Jingir had earlier declared his support for the Muslim-Muslim arrangement during a mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples, where he urged Muslims to vote in a way that would demonstrate their numerical strength.
Jingir Defends His Position
The cleric said he decided to support the arrangement after President Tinubu “raised the flag” of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
He argued that, as a Muslim preacher, he had the right to advocate a political arrangement that aligned with his religious convictions.
Jingir also challenged claims that Christians or other religious groups constitute a larger population than Muslims in Nigeria.
His comments have continued to attract reactions, with some critics describing his position as divisive, while others have defended his right to express his religious and political views.
A political analyst said Jingir’s position could strengthen support among Muslim voters who backed the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election ahead of 2027.
The analyst, however, warned that the stance could also alienate some non-Muslim voters who previously supported President Tinubu.
