More than 1,000 Islamic clerics have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to seek re-election in the 2027 presidential election, citing economic hardship, insecurity and other challenges confronting Nigerians.
The call was contained in a communique issued at the end of a national conference on “An Assessment of the State of the Nation under President Tinubu and the 2027 General Elections,” held in Kano State on Sunday.
The position comes amid separate endorsements of Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima by the Jama’atul Izalatul Bid’a Wa Iqamatussunnah (JIBWIS) and the Qadiriyya Sufi sect for the 2027 presidential election.
According to the report, the two Islamic groups endorsed the Tinubu-Shettima ticket during separate visits by Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, to their leadership.
However, the clerics who attended the Kano conference under the umbrella of Ko Da Naka…For the Struggle to Promote Good Governance and Community Development, in collaboration with AFAQ Educational Foundation, expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Tinubu administration.
The participants criticised several economic policies of the Federal Government, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, changes to the naira exchange-rate regime, increases in electricity tariffs and proposed tax reforms.
According to the communique, the policies had contributed to increased hardship among ordinary Nigerians.
“It is unfortunate that the government has continued to insist on pursuing these policies, which are increasing hardship among the people, rather than reviewing and correcting them.
“The government prioritised the growth of its revenue at a time when the rising cost of living and unemployment are threatening the lives and well-being of citizens,” the communique stated.
The clerics said the government should reconsider what they described as harmful economic policies, warning that continued hardship could influence voters’ decisions in the 2027 election.
“Consequently, participants at the conference unanimously agreed that it would be inappropriate to re-elect this government in the forthcoming 2027 general elections if it does not change its harmful economic policies,” the communique added.
Clerics raise security concerns
The participants also expressed concern over killings, kidnappings, banditry and other forms of terrorism across the country.
They called on the Federal Government to take urgent measures to address insecurity, particularly in the North-West and other affected parts of the country.
The conference said the security situation had become a major concern requiring stronger government intervention.
The communique further called on Tinubu to consider withdrawing from the 2027 presidential race.
“Alternatively, the President should refrain from contesting the 2027 election. If he refuses to do so, it is incumbent upon citizens to reject his candidacy and allow those whom they believe can provide better leadership,” it stated.
Among the clerics who presented papers at the conference were Dr Abdulmuɗɗalib Ahmad Giɗaɗo, Professor Muhd Muslim Ibrahim, Sheikh Kabir Bashir Abdulhamid, Dr Aminu Isma’il Sagagi, Dr Najibullah Abdallah Nuhu, Sheikh Abdurrazaq Uba Musa, Sheikh Musa Muhd Ɗan kwano, Barrister El-Zubair, Dr Yahuza Getso, Professor Ibrahim Siraj Adhama, Dr Umar Dokaji and Sheikh Muhd Sani Khamis (Abu Haisam).
The position expressed at the Kano conference differs from that of JIBWIS and the Qadiriyya Sufi sect, which, according to the report, have backed Tinubu and Shettima for another term in office.
The competing positions highlight differing views among Islamic organisations and clerics over the Tinubu administration and the 2027 presidential election.
