Islamic cleric and leader of the Izala Scholars Council, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has defended his support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, saying he has no regret over his position despite the criticism it has attracted.
Jingir made his position known during an interview with BBC Hausa monitored on Wednesday, where he said his support was based on his religious convictions and not an attempt to campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
The cleric said he would continue to encourage Muslims to support a presidential ticket involving two Muslim candidates, regardless of opposition to his stance.
He alleged that Muslims had previously suffered at the hands of those who opposed their interests, insisting that the criticism would not make him withdraw his position.
Jingir had earlier declared his support for the arrangement during a mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples. At the event, he urged Muslims to vote in a way that would show their numerical strength in Nigeria.
He explained that his decision to back the Muslim-Muslim arrangement followed President Tinubu's choice of a Muslim running mate and said he had the right, as a Muslim preacher, to advocate a political arrangement that aligned with his beliefs.
The cleric also disputed claims that Christians or other religious groups have a larger population than Muslims in Nigeria.
His comments have sparked reactions across the country, with critics accusing him of promoting religious division, while others have defended his right to express his views on politics and religion.
A political analyst said Jingir's position could help strengthen support among Muslim voters who backed the Muslim-Muslim ticket during the 2023 presidential election.
The analyst, however, noted that the position could also affect President Tinubu's support among some non-Muslim voters ahead of the 2027 election.
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