Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has criticised prominent presidential candidates, including President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, for keeping silent over the controversial comments made by an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahya Jingir.

Adeyanju accused them of remaining silent because of their political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He made the accusation on Monday in a post, while reacting to the cleric’s recent advocacy for Muslim-Muslim political tickets and remarks directed at Christians and other groups opposed to such arrangements.

According to him, political leaders who need votes would rather ignore inflammatory religious rhetoric than condemn it.

“Tinubu, Atiku and Obi are yet to condemn Sheik Jingir’s anti-Christian remarks because they need votes. They will act like they didn’t see it praying for something huge to happen and distract Nigerians to move on,” Adeyanju wrote.

President Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is seeking re-election in 2027, while Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) are among the major contenders vying for the country’s highest political office.

Adeyanju had, in a statement on Sunday, condemned Jingir’s comments, describing them as divisive and capable of aggravating religious tensions in the country.

The reaction followed remarks made by Jingir at a campaign event in Kano State in support of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, where the cleric urged Muslims to back Muslim-Muslim tickets in future elections.

Jingir also praised Tinubu for promoting the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and described himself as a strong supporter of the political arrangement.

“Special thanks to my (political) hero, Bola Tinubu who raised the flag of this political ideology, describing it as a purely Muslim-Muslim coalition,” the cleric said.

“I am among the staunch advocates of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, and I call on you to come together for Muslim-Muslim ticket,” he added.

Jingir further encouraged Muslims to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and mobilise for elections, while making remarks about Christians and other religious groups that have opposed Muslim-Muslim tickets.

He was quoted as referring to non-Muslims as “infidels” and calling on his audience to “show the infidels their limit” at the polls.

The cleric also alleged that members of the Maitatsine movement were Christians in disguise while discussing an attack on a mosque in Kano.

Reacting, Adeyanju argued that political leadership should be judged by its impact on citizens rather than religious identity.

“Has the Muslim-Muslim ticket put food on the tables of Nigerians, solved insecurity, unemployment, inflation, or strengthened the Nigerian passport and Nigeria’s standing in the world?” he asked.

“We must look beyond religion and judge leadership by its impact on our lives as Nigerians,” Adeyanju added.

He warned that religious rhetoric capable of setting Christians and Muslims against one another could further deepen Nigeria’s existing divisions and fuel separatist and other forms of agitation.

“I condemn the recent rhetoric of Sheikh Yahya Jingir and describe same as divisive and capable of fuelling religious tension in our beloved nation,” Adeyanju said.

He stressed that Nigeria remained a plural society whose religious diversity must be respected by both political and religious leaders.

“Nigeria is a plural society, and our Constitution recognises and protects that plurality. Religious leaders should respect Nigeria’s plurality and use their influence to promote peace and unity rather than sowing discord between Christians and Muslims,” he said.

Adeyanju called on politicians and clerics to refrain from rhetoric that could provoke citizens along religious, ethnic or cultural lines.

“Clerics and politicians must stop provoking law-abiding citizens and learn to respect our different religions, cultures and ethnicities. Nigeria belongs to all of us,” he said.