- Claims Muslim-Muslim ticket confirms Muslims outnumber Christians in Nigeria.
- Pledges to back a government that prioritizes families, which has led to an increase in conversions to Islam in America.
Just as the controversy over Presidential spokespeople’s reactions to John Cardinal Onaiyekan’s Arise interview was still simmering after the recent visit of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), a video surfaced online showing Jos-based Sheik Yahaya Jingir using a slur against Christians while campaigning for the government in power, quickly gaining traction.
“Here, I urge you to prepare your votes. Let us show the world that the infidels are lying that they outnumber us,” said Sheik Sani Yahaya Jingir, speaking in Hausa during a campaign event in support of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, called “Abba Go Again.”
“Let’s show the infidels their limit” – Sheik Jingir
As the passionate Islamic cleric spoke, Governor Yusuf was spotted cheering twice, while his Katsina counterpart from North-Western Nigeria, Umaru Dikko Radda, looked on with a smile.
“ I urge all of us here to go and get our voters’ cards ready. Let’s show the infidels their limit, who claim they are more populous than us in Nigeria. They are lying!” he said.
According to him, “I am aware that the infidels are embittered by this word. However, are there no Christians alike? Are there no Jews? Are there no traditionalists? Have I done anything wrong by merely campaigning for a Muslim-Muslim ticket?”
“Have I stopped the Christians from their own slogans? Have I stopped traditionalists from a similar campaign?”
“My vote is for a Muslim-Muslim candidate.” – Sheik Jingir
While urging the “Muslim umma” to vote for President Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 general elections, he maintained, “my vote is for a Muslim-Muslim candidate” for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ruling party.
His remarks drew applause from the massive crowd, who were in tune with the campaign for the ruling APC-led administration, at a time when the presidential spokesman had urged clerics to steer clear of partisan politics.
The cleric expressed confidence that the government is on the right track, as its support for families has been contributing to conversions to Islam in America.
“But we here support this kind of government that would establish a family value, spending money to ensure husband and wife and children are growing up. They are even converting to Islam in America,” he claimed.
In a plain reference to Christians whom he accuses of being responsible for the Maitatsine uprising in Kano, the Sheik said, “Don’t allow anybody to deceive you,” adding, “People with a dark history, who are responsible for planting a bomb in our mosque in Kano, calling themselves Maitatsine, the so-called Christians in disguise.”
Maitatsine, a Hausa term meaning “the one who damns,” refers to the curse-filled public speeches of Muhammad Marwa, a Cameroonian Muslim, directed against the Nigerian state.
His fiery rhetoric sparked the 1980 Kano riot, resulting in the deaths of over 4,177 civilians, 100 police officers, and about 35 military personnel.
Reactions to the trending video have labeled the Muslim leader’s remarks as extremist and toxic, suggesting they promote a move toward Islamic theocracy as a replacement for liberal democracy, which Nigeria practices under a secular constitutional government.
Jingir “endangering the chances of our candidates” Fani-Kayode
A Chieftain of the APC and ambassador designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode who condemned the action in a Facebook post wrote: “Jingir is not only feeding into that false narrative with his reckless words but he is also endangering the chances of our candidates in the 2027 presidential election because in order for us to win we need BOTH Muslim AND Christian votes.”
He noted that “A man’s faith, whether Christian or Muslim, must be respected and no religious faith is greater or more important than the other.”
Kayode called for unity among Nigerians, emphasizing that the DSS should invite the cleric for questioning.
“We are all one before God and we should live in peace with one another always showing each other love and respect which both the Koran and the Bible talks about.
“Jingir should be invited by the DSS and formally cautioned before he sets this country in fire,” he insisted.
On his part, Prophet Isa El-Buba, General Overseer of El-Buba Outreach Ministries, has criticized Jingir’s inflammatory comments, in which the cleric encouraged Muslims in Kano State to back Muslim-Muslim political tickets and labelled Christians as infidels.
Sahara Reporters quoted El-Buba as saying, “If Christians should do this, who is going to have a country?” He added, “These are the kind of people that I suppose that government should pick.”
“Jingir did not take money to promote a Muslim-Muslim ticket.”
Meanwhile, Mallam Abdulsalam Ahmad, Special Adviser on New Media to the Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has voiced his support for controversial Islamic cleric Sheik Jingir after the latter’s recent remarks on Nigeria’s religious and political landscape.
“If you’re looking for a religious scholar who isn’t afraid and doesn’t compromise on his principles, then when you get Sheik Sani Yahaya Jingir, the matter is settled,” Ahmad wrote on his X handle.
He further absolved the cleric of any financial inducement, stressing, “I’m certain that Malam Sani Yahaya Jingir did not take money to promote a Muslim-Muslim ticket.”
Section 204 of the Criminal Code Act bans public insults against any religious group intended to offend their beliefs, while Sections 373–375 address criminal defamation, making it illegal to make spoken or written statements that harm someone’s reputation or expose them to public contempt, with penalties including fines or up to two years in prison.
At the time of filing this report, there had been no response from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), no public statement from the DSS regarding an invitation to the Islamic cleric, and no comments from the presidential media team.
