Over 1,000 Islamic clerics have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to seek re-election in the 2027 presidential election, citing the country’s economic crisis, insecurity, and other pressing challenges.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a national conference titled “An Assessment of the State of the Nation under President Tinubu and the 2027 General Elections,” held in Kano State on Sunday.
This development comes at a time when other Islamic groups, including Jama’atul Izalatul Bid’a Wa Iqamatussunnah (JIBWIS) and the Qadiriyya Sufi sect, have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for the 2027 presidential election, urging their members nationwide to support their re-election.
JIBWIS and Qadiriyya reportedly endorsed Tinubu’s candidacy during separate visits to their leadership by Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.
However, the Islamic clerics under the umbrella of “Ko Da Naka… For the Struggle to Promote Good Governance and Community Development,” in collaboration with the AFAQ Educational Foundation, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the administration’s performance.
The clerics unanimously agreed that Tinubu’s economic policies—including the removal of the fuel subsidy, the unification of the foreign exchange market, electricity tariff hikes, and tax reforms—have significantly increased hardship for ordinary citizens.
“It is unfortunate that the government has continued to pursue these policies, which are increasing hardship among the people, rather than reviewing and correcting them. The government has prioritised revenue growth at a time when the rising cost of living and unemployment are threatening the lives and well-being of citizens.
“Consequently, participants at the conference unanimously agreed that it would be inappropriate to re-elect this administration in the forthcoming 2027 general elections if it fails to reverse these harmful economic policies,” the communiqué read in part.
Furthermore, participants expressed grave concern over persistent killings, kidnappings, and acts of terrorism across the nation, urging the government to take immediate action to address insecurity, particularly in the North-West.
The communiqué added: “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 vote for those they believe can provide better leadership.”
Some of the prominent clerics who presented papers at the conference included Dr. Abdulmuɗɗalib Ahmad Giɗaɗo, Prof. Muhammad Muslim Ibrahim, Sheikh Kabir Bashir Abdulhamid, Dr. Aminu Isma’il Sagagi, Dr. Najibullah Abdallah Nuhu, Sheikh Abdurrazaq Uba Musa, Sheikh Musa Muhammad Ɗan Kwano, Barrister El-Zubair, Dr. Yahuza Getso, Prof. Ibrahim Siraj Adhama, Dr. Umar Dokaji, and Sheikh Muhammad Sani Khamis (Abu Haisam).
