Fani-Kayode Warns Jingir's Comments Could Hurt Tinubu

Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, cautioned that comments made by Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahaya Jingir in favor of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket could threaten President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects in 2027. Fani-Kayode stated that Jingir's remarks might alienate Christian voters and provide the opposition with a political weapon ahead of the election.

Following Jingir's comments at an event in Kano, where he advocated for Muslim-Muslim tickets, Fani-Kayode received over 100 calls from concerned individuals. He criticized the support Jingir received from the Governor of Kano State and warned against exploiting religious issues for political gain.

Fani-Kayode highlighted that Nigeria has over 120 million Christians and that such divisive rhetoric could reinforce negative perceptions about the ruling party, particularly amid allegations of religious persecution. He asserted that Jingir does not represent the views of the APC or the majority of Nigerian Muslims and emphasized the necessity of garnering support from both Muslim and Christian voters for electoral success.