Sectarian Identity and Political Behavior: Examining the Political Disposition of the Non-Imn Shi’a Muslims in Nigeria

The study examines the political dispositions of the non-IMN Shi’a Muslims in Nigeria. The study focused on their pattern of engagement, what motivates them, and the challenges they face while participating within the context of their sectarian identity and religious ideology. The study employed a qualitative research method that utilized both primary and secondary data sources. The qualitative data collected from the secondary sources, such as books, journals, newspapers, documents, and audio and video clips, were collaborated with primary data from interviews to further strengthen the research analysis. The sociological perspective of religion as belonging and the group participation theory were used as the theoretical framework that guides the research analysis. The paper reveals that non-IMN Shi’as participate in conventional political activities, including voting and contesting elections, and their participation is linked to their religious doctrines like taqlid and allegiance to the Marji’iyyah Institution. Unlike members of the dominant Shi’a group—the apolitical Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN)—non-IMN Shi’as consider political participation both a religious obligation and a strategic means to achieve socio-political recognition and equality. Nevertheless, their sectarian identity causes various challenges to their political engagements, such as public distrust, discrimination, and campaign opposition rooted in religious prejudice. As a result, some of the non-IMN Shi’a politicians’ resort to taqiyyah to conceal their identity for electoral success. Moreover, internal rivalry with the IMN undermines their collective political value and strength. The study generally discovers that non-IMN Shi’a political participation is not just a civic duty but also a form of religious expression shaped by doctrinal and identity-based considerations. This research contributes to broader discussions on sectarian ideology and politics in Nigeria, highlighting the nuanced and context-specific nature of political Behaviour among religious minorities.