Defiant Sheikh Jingir Doubles Down on Viral Video, Says Opponents Started Religious Politics

Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir has rejected calls for his apology, maintaining that he has no regrets over his recent viral sermon advocating for religiously exclusive politics.

The National Chairman of the Council of Ulama Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) spoke out following fierce national criticism, demands for his arrest by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and condemnations from religious and political leaders across the country.

Addressing the ongoing controversy, Jingir defended his statements, claiming that his comments were made in response to historical political marginalization. He argued that other political and religious factions were the first to weaponize religion for electoral advantage, asserting that his supporters suffered significantly when they lacked unified political power.

The cleric insisted that mobilizing his followers to secure voter cards and support same-faith tickets is a legitimate strategy to ensure their political interests remain protected ahead of the 2027 general elections. He maintained that his message was intended to unite his followers rather than provoke unprovoked crisis.

However, his defiant stance has drawn further criticism from human rights advocates and civil society groups. Critics argue that justifying religious division by blaming past actions only deepens national fault lines and heightens political tensions ahead of upcoming elections.

Security agencies remain under pressure from human rights bodies to review the cleric’s statements to ensure that public sermons across all faiths adhere to constitutional standards against hate speech and political incitement.