Muslim-Muslim Ticket Debate: MC Tagwaye Mocks Tinubu, Dares Him to Recite Suratul Fatiha like he did
By Gambo Jagindi
August 12, 2026
ABUJA — A business entrepreneur and chieftain of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, Dr. Obinna Simon, popularly known as MC Tagwaye, has mocked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amid renewed debate over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
The comedian-turned-politician’s remarks followed controversial comments by prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir, who backed the Muslim-Muslim ticket and described Christians as “infidels” during a public event.
In a viral post on his social media handle, Tagwaye issued a direct challenge to the President. He dared President Tinubu to recite Suratul Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Qur’an, fluently and without error.
Tagwaye vowed to decamp to the ruling All Progressives Congress if the President successfully meets the challenge.
Suratul Fatiha is the first chapter of the Qur’an and is regarded by Muslims as the essence of the entire book.
It is recited in every unit of prayer and is considered compulsory for the validity of Salah, whether obligatory or voluntary prayers. For many Muslims, proficiency in its recitation is considered a basic requirement of Islamic practice.
The post has since generated heated reactions online, with users linking the dare to broader national conversations on faith, leadership credentials, and religious representation in politics.
Controversy also trailed remarks made by Sheikh Jingir at a mass wedding ceremony organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples, Aluta News reports.
At the event, Jingir urged Muslims to vote in line with their numerical strength, a statement that has drawn criticism from political leaders, civil society groups, and the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC. The Commission described the comments as hate speech and called for the cleric’s arrest and prosecution.
The debate comes as President Tinubu has again nominated Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 election, retaining the Muslim-Muslim ticket first used in 2023. It was the first such pairing since the 1993 presidential election involving MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe.
Some Muslim critics argue that President Tinubu should not be regarded as a practicing Muslim. As a result, they do not accept the Tinubu-Shettima ticket as a genuine Muslim-Muslim pairing.
This skepticism may partly explain why Tagwaye threw the challenge, daring the President to recite Suratul Fatiha publicly.
Political observers say the renewed discourse reflects growing sensitivity around religion and power ahead of the next general elections.
Now, with Tinubu and Shettima set to run together again in 2027, the conversation around faith and power is back on the front burner
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