A group of over 1,000 Islamic clerics in Nigeria has urged President Bola Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential election. The clerics, who made the call in a communique issued at the end of a national conference held in Kano State, cited the worsening economic hardship, insecurity, and other challenges confronting Nigerians as reasons for their demand. The conference, titled “An Assessment of the State of the Nation under President Tinubu and the 2027 General Elections,” was organised under the umbrella of Ko Da Naka…For the Struggle to Promote Good Governance and Community Development, in collaboration with AFAQ Educational Foundation.
The Islamic clerics expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of the Tinubu administration, particularly its economic policies, which they said had increased the burden on ordinary Nigerians. They specifically faulted the removal of the fuel subsidy, changes to the naira exchange-rate system, increases in electricity tariffs, and tax reforms. According to the clerics, the continued implementation of the policies had contributed to rising hardship, while the government remained focused on increasing revenue.
The communique issued by the clerics stated that 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 participants consequently warned that Tinubu should not expect to be re-elected in 2027 unless his administration changes what they described as harmful economic policies.
The clerics also expressed concern over killings, kidnappings by bandits, and other acts of terrorism across the country. They particularly called for urgent government action to tackle insecurity in the North-West and other parts of the country. The clerics warned that Nigerians should reject Tinubu's candidacy if he chooses to remain in the race. Alternatively, they suggested that Tinubu should refrain from contesting the 2027 election.
The conference featured presentations from notable scholars, including Dr Abdulmuɗɗalib Ahmad Giɗaɗo, Prof Muhd Muslim Ibrahim, and Sheikh Kabir Bashir Abdulhamid, among others. The clerics' call for Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential election is a significant development in the country's politics, as it reflects the growing concerns about the current administration's policies and their impact on the lives of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has urged Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 general elections. Makinde made the call in a video shared on his social media accounts, where he displayed his PVC and encouraged citizens to obtain theirs. He said the Independent National Electoral Commission had confirmed that PVC collection would commence on October 9, 2026.
Governor Makinde, who is seeking the presidency in 2027 on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), described the PVC as the means through which citizens exercise their power to choose their leaders. He urged Nigerians to participate in the electoral process regardless of the candidates they planned to support. The governor's call for Nigerians to collect their PVCs is a reminder of the importance of voter participation in the country's democratic process.
Key points
- The Islamic clerics cited the government's economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy and changes to the naira exchange-rate system, as contributing to the rising hardship in the country.
- The clerics warned that Tinubu should not expect to be re-elected in 2027 unless his administration changes its economic policies.
- Governor Seyi Makinde has urged Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing the importance of voter participation in the country's democratic process.
