Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticised Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir over his renewed call for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2027 election, warning that such comments could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects.
Jingir, a prominent Islamic scholar and leader of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), made the remarks at an event attended by several All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, including Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi.
The cleric praised Tinubu for introducing the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election and declared his continued support for the arrangement ahead of the 2027 poll. He also acknowledged opposition to the arrangement among Christians and other religious groups.
Reacting to the remarks, Fani-Kayode described them as divisive and potentially damaging to the ruling APC’s electoral prospects.
In a statement shared on social media, Fani-Kayode said political leaders should be mindful of the country’s religious diversity and avoid statements capable of deepening existing divisions.
“Jingir is not only feeding into that false narrative with his reckless words, but he is also endangering the chances of our candidates in 2027,” Fani-Kayode said, according to reports of his response.
The former minister argued that religious identity should not be used as the basis for determining political support in a country as religiously diverse as Nigeria.
He maintained that neither Christianity nor Islam should be exploited for political purposes, stressing that issues of faith were more important than electoral calculations.
Fani-Kayode also criticised what he described as the reported celebration of Jingir’s comments by some political leaders, arguing that such reactions could further alienate voters from other religious backgrounds.
He said Jingir did not speak for the APC or for all Nigerian Muslims, adding that political candidates seeking nationwide support should avoid rhetoric that could reinforce perceptions of religious exclusion.
The controversy comes as political parties and presidential hopefuls begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election. Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima ran on a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023, an arrangement that generated considerable debate and opposition among sections of the Christian community.
The same-faith ticket nevertheless won the 2023 presidential election, with Tinubu and Shettima defeating their major challengers.
The issue is again emerging as a significant political subject ahead of 2027. Opposition figures have warned that retaining a Muslim-Muslim ticket could become an electoral liability for Tinubu, while supporters of the arrangement argue that competence and character, rather than religious identity, should determine the choice of political leaders.
Fani-Kayode urged political and religious leaders to promote unity and avoid statements that could heighten religious tensions, saying the country’s stability should take precedence over partisan and electoral interests.
His comments have added to a growing debate over the role of religion in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential contest and whether the ruling party will retain the Tinubu-Shettima Muslim-Muslim ticket.
