The Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Rev. Joseph Hayab, has criticised comments by Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir over the Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Hayab said President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima could not have won the 2023 presidential election through Muslim votes alone, noting that the ticket also received support from several Christian-majority areas across the country.
He made the comments while speaking on Channels Television in reaction to Jingir’s recent remarks defending the continued use of a Muslim-Muslim ticket. The cleric had called on Muslims to use their population and political strength to support candidates of their faith.
Hayab said the religious identity of political candidates was not the main issue but rather statements capable of creating division among Nigerians. He also criticised Jingir for using a derogatory term for Christians while speaking about political support.
According to Hayab, Christians in Northern Nigeria have raised concerns over alleged discrimination and marginalisation for years, but such complaints were often dismissed. He said the latest remarks had brought renewed attention to those concerns.
The NCA chairman also questioned the reaction of political leaders who were present when Jingir made the controversial remarks. He said Nigerians were waiting to hear their positions on the comments and whether they agreed with the cleric’s views.
Hayab maintained that Christians had never demanded anything beyond fairness and inclusion in governance. He said Nigeria’s Constitution provides for equal citizenship, regardless of religious affiliation.
He also rejected the idea that Christians should withdraw from discussions with Muslims because of the controversy. Instead, he called for continued dialogue with religious and political leaders who are willing to promote peace and national unity.
The cleric further called on government authorities to pay attention to public statements that could worsen religious tension in the country. He warned that repeated inflammatory comments could deepen divisions among Nigerians at a time when the country is already facing economic and security challenges.
Hayab also renewed his support for including religion in Nigeria’s national census. He said reliable data could help reduce arguments over the population strength of different religious groups and prevent political actors from using religious numbers to justify their positions.
He said Christian leaders had continued to engage political leaders, government officials and security agencies over issues affecting their communities, although some of these engagements were conducted privately to avoid creating further tension.
Hayab urged Nigerians to focus on unity, good governance and nation-building instead of allowing political interests to turn religious differences into sources of conflict.