​ABUJA, Nigeria — A leading civil society organization in Nigeria has issued a stark warning over rising political extremism, following controversial comments by a prominent Islamic cleric calling for the continuation of same-faith presidential tickets in Africa’s most populous nation.

​The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) said remarks made by Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir at a mass wedding in northern Kano State were “incendiary” and risk stoking sectarian tensions ahead of general elections expected in 2027.

​In a video circulating widely on social media, the cleric urged attendees to support Muslim-Muslim leadership and called on Muslims to “show the infidels their limit.” The event was attended by several high-profile political figures, including the governors of Kano and Jigawa states.

​’Reckless and insensitive’

​Responding to the viral footage, CHRICED Executive Director Ibrahim Zikirullahi rejected the cleric’s comments, stating that Sheikh Jingir did not speak for the majority of Nigerian Muslims.

​”Against this backdrop, it is reckless, insensitive and profoundly un-Islamic for any cleric to urge citizens to persist on a path that has brought untold suffering to millions,” Zikirullahi said in a statement released on Thursday.

​He added that using derogatory terms against fellow citizens violated core Islamic principles of peace and mercy, warning that such rhetoric historically fed into the narratives of extremist groups like Boko Haram.

​Nigeria’s population of over 220 million is roughly split between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south. The country’s political system has traditionally relied on an unwritten power-sharing agreement, alternating power between regions and faiths to maintain national balance.

​However, that convention was broken during the 2023 elections when incumbent President Bola Tinubu, a southern Muslim, selected Kashim Shettima, a northern Muslim, as his running mate. The move drew sharp criticism from religious leaders and opposition parties at the time.

​Silence from political leaders

​CHRICED expressed deep concern over what it described as a “troubling silence” from political leaders who attended the Kano event, noting that neither the presidency nor state authorities had publicly distance themselves from the cleric’s remarks.

​The rights group warned that failing to condemn such rhetoric sets a dangerous precedent as political parties begin aligning for the next election cycle.

​”Inflammatory religious rhetoric at this sensitive pre-election period is akin to beating war drums,” the statement said, calling on security agencies, political parties, and faith leaders to reject religious exclusion and focus on governance.

​CHRICED urged the federal government to enforce measures against hate speech while calling on citizens to prioritize competence, accountability, and economic recovery over religious identity.