The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute prominent Islamic cleric, Sani Jingir, over remarks he allegedly made while canvassing support for another Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, made the call on Tuesday, urging the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) and other relevant authorities to take action over what the Commission described as alleged hate speech and incitement to religious hatred.
According to Ojukwu, prosecuting the cleric would send a strong message to individuals seeking to exploit religious differences for political purposes, particularly as Nigeria moves closer to another general election.
The controversy followed comments made by Jingir during a mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples on Saturday.
Speaking in Hausa at the event, the cleric reportedly renewed his support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2027, similar to the arrangement adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election.
Jingir described himself as one of those promoting Islam and called on Muslims to support another Muslim-Muslim ticket.
He also described Nigeria as a Muslim-majority country and urged Muslims to obtain their voter cards and use the 2027 election to demonstrate their numerical strength.
Referring to the 2023 presidential election, the cleric said Muslims had prevailed at the polls and maintained that his vote in 2027 would be guided by his religion.
Reacting, the NHRC described the remarks as divisive and inconsistent with the principles of equality, non-discrimination and peaceful coexistence guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.
The Commission warned that religious rhetoric capable of pitching citizens against one another could become particularly dangerous in the build-up to the 2027 elections.
Ojukwu said the Commission considered the remarks capable of encouraging religious hatred and potentially triggering violence, warning that failure by relevant authorities to act could embolden Christian and Muslim clerics, politicians and other influential persons to make increasingly inflammatory statements.
He stressed that Nigeria could not afford rhetoric capable of deepening religious divisions, adding that political participation should not be turned into a contest between religious groups.
The NHRC also urged religious leaders, traditional rulers and politicians to refrain from statements capable of threatening peaceful coexistence.
The remarks have also drawn criticism from former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who said the people of Kano did not support divisive rhetoric.
The remarks have also drawn criticism from former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who said the people of Kano did not support divisive rhetoric.
Former Minister of Aviation and Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, also criticised Jingir’s remarks, describing them as extremist and reckless.