Muslim-Muslim ticket: He shouldn’t be blamed for extreme view — Gumi defends Jingir

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric, has come to Sheikh Yahya Jingir's defense following the latter's controversial stance supporting Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections. Gumi argued that Jingir should not be held accountable for his position, claiming the Nigerian cleric operates in an environment rife with excessive religious bigotry against Muslims.

This defense came in a Facebook post where Gumi expressed his views on the matter. Jingir, in a recent statement, had commended President Bola Tinubu for choosing a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 election and urged Muslims to continue backing the arrangement until 2027. Jingir declared his staunch support for the ticket and called upon his followers to do the same.

However, Gumi pointed out that religious sentiments are not exclusive to one side of the political divide, as opposition politicians also exploit religion to gain votes. He further urged politicians and religious leaders to refrain from involving religion in Nigeria's "dirty politics."