Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former Kano State governor and 2023 NNPP presidential candidate, has publicly denounced the suggestion by Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir to maintain Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets for the upcoming 2027 polls. In a statement released on his X account, Kwankwaso characterized the cleric’s stance as inherently divisive.
The controversy emerged following a video in which Sheikh Jingir commended President Bola Tinubu for the 2023 religious configuration of his ticket, suggesting the strategy should persist. The event was attended by notable officials, including Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi. Kwankwaso argued that leaders in both the religious and political spheres have a duty to foster national cohesion rather than deepen existing fractures.
Emphasizing that the residents of Kano reject such exclusionary rhetoric, the former governor stated that the 2027 election cycle will serve as a referendum on the current administration’s performance. He concluded that voters will ultimately decide whether to endorse the government based on its track record at the ballot box.
