Northern Christian Leader Rejects Claims Over 2023 Presidential Mandate, Calls for Unity

The Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Rev. Joseph Hayab, has rejected assertions that President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were elected exclusively by Muslim voters during the 2023 general elections.

Speaking on a national television broadcast, Hayab reacted to controversial remarks made by Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, who urged Muslims to leverage their numerical strength for political dominance ahead of the 2027 elections and used derogatory language toward Christians. Hayab pointed out that the current presidential ticket received significant electoral support across several Christian-majority states and communities, demonstrating that the mandate was conferred by a diverse electorate.

Hayab expressed strong concern over the inflammatory rhetoric, emphasizing that public statements demeaning fellow citizens on the basis of faith undermine national cohesion. He noted that such comments bring long-standing concerns regarding religious harmony and marginalization into public view, while questioning the silence of political leaders who were present when the statements were made.

Reiterating the need for national solidarity, the cleric called on federal authorities, political figures, and community leaders to publicly condemn divisive language and uphold constitutional freedoms. He also renewed calls for including religion in the national census to provide clear demographic data and urged leaders to focus on pressing national issues, such as security and economic hardship, rather than religious division.