Muslim-Muslim ticket: No regret over my statement – Sheikh Jingir

Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, the Islamic cleric and leader of the Izala Scholars Council, has maintained his stance on his Muslim-Muslim ticket comments and his characterization of Christians as "infidels." In an interview with the BBC, Jingir expressed no regret over his recent support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, dismissing the criticism it has garnered.

He clarified that his stance was not politically motivated or intended to support President Bola Tinubu, but rather, it stemmed from his belief in his role as a Muslim. According to Jingir, he would continue to encourage Muslims to back a Muslim-Muslim ticket, regardless of the negative reactions his stance may provoke. Jingir stated, "I have no regrets.

I will continue to support and encourage the Muslim-Muslim ticket. What they say will not stop me. They started it; at a point, we suffered in their hands." Notably, Jingir made these remarks during a mass wedding ceremony organized by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples, where he publicly endorsed the Muslim-Muslim ticket and called upon Muslims to vote in a manner that would underscore their numerical dominance in Nigeria.

He also defended his position by challenging claims that Christians or other religious groups constitute a larger portion of Nigeria’s population, asserting his right as a Muslim preacher to promote a political arrangement in line with his religious beliefs. The cleric's comments have sparked a range of reactions, with some viewing them as divisive, while others have defended his freedom to express his religious and political views.