Keep Religion Out of Nigeria’s ‘Dirty Politics,’ Gumi Tells Jingir

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has waded into the growing controversy over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, defending his colleague Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir while urging all political actors to keep religion out of what he described as Nigeria’s “dirty politics.” Gumi’s intervention comes as Jingir’s recent remarks—in which he advocated for continued Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets ahead of the 2027 elections and reportedly referred to Christians as “infidels”—have sparked widespread condemnation from Christian leaders, civil society groups, and politicians across party lines.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Gumi argued that Jingir should be “excused” for what he described as an “extreme view in politics,” attributing the cleric’s position to his environment. “Sheikh Jingir should be excused for his extreme view in politics; he dwells in the eye of the storm of excessive bigotry against Islam,” Gumi wrote. Gumi, however, noted that the exploitation of religion for political purposes is not exclusive to one side of the political divide. He pointed to a recent controversy involving a Muslim vice-chancellor in Plateau State as evidence that the opposition also uses religion to garner votes. “Just recently, a mere Muslim VC in Plateau State is stirring controversy. On the other hand, the opposition is not also free from using religion to garner votes,” he said. Gumi urged politicians and religious leaders to keep religion out of partisan contests, emphasising Nigeria’s religious diversity. “In a multi-religious entity, religion should not be dragged into the quagmire of dirty politics,” he added.

The Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has distanced itself from comments attributed to Jingir, describing a viral statement claiming the organisation’s “100 per cent” support for the cleric as fake and misleading. In a statement, JNI Plateau Publicity Secretary, Gambo Hamza, clarified that while Jingir is entitled to personal views, such positions should not be presented as the official stance of the organisation. “JNI Plateau State neither endorsed nor authorised any statement purporting to support Sheikh Jingir ‘100%’ in relation to the Muslim-Muslim ticket or any other partisan political position,” Hamza said. The organisation urged security agencies to investigate the source of the false publication, warning that it could fuel religious tension in Plateau State, which has a history of ethno-religious conflicts. JNI also clarified that it has no official position designated as “Special Adviser on New Media” and no official named Abdulsalam Ahmad, who was reportedly associated with the disputed statement.

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Former Kano State governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, also condemned Jingir’s remarks. In a post on his verified Facebook page, Kwankwaso expressed deep concern over the cleric’s comments, which reportedly included a warning that those who oppose a Muslim-Muslim ticket should leave Nigeria because the country belongs to Muslims. “Let it be clearly stated: the good people of Kano do not endorse or support these divisive remarks,” Kwankwaso wrote. He urged political and religious leaders to uphold truth, promote unity, and advance reconciliation, adding that the 2027 elections would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to assess the performance of the current administration. “The 2027 general elections will be an opportunity for Nigerians to reward good governance with resounding support and to reject poor performance at the polls. This administration has earned the latter,” he said.

Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, warned that Jingir’s comments could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election chances in 2027 by alienating Christian voters. Fani-Kayode, in a Facebook post, said he received more than 100 calls and messages from concerned Christians and Muslims following the publication of Jingir’s remarks. “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 said. He stressed that Jingir’s views were not representative of the APC or the majority of Nigerian Muslims. “Jingir does not represent the feelings of the APC and neither does he speak for us. He only speaks for himself,” Fani-Kayode said. He called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to invite and caution the cleric over his comments.

Reverend Dr Joseph John Hayab, Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, criticised three governors who were present when Jingir made the remarks, accusing them of smiling rather than condemning the comments. “When we cry out that we are being persecuted, when we cry out that there is a deliberate attempt to dominate us, people say, ‘No, this isn’t true.’ Today we have it—the man didn’t just say it in his room. He said it in the presence of three governors, and they were all smiling,” Hayab said. He argued that the governors should have immediately rebuked and rejected the remarks rather than appearing to approve them.

Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, also condemned Jingir’s comments, warning that Nigeria risks sliding into “a dangerous form of religious majoritarianism.” Dalung questioned the wisdom of reducing Nigeria’s complex political and socioeconomic problems to a religious headcount. “A Muslim-Muslim ticket does not put food on a Muslim family’s table, secure communities from kidnappers, create jobs, or repair the country’s collapsing infrastructure,” he said. He insisted that supporters of a Muslim-Muslim ticket should defend it on measurable issues such as competence, security, justice, economic growth, and good governance—not religious identity.