2027: Northern Clerics Urge Tinubu to Drop Re-election Bid Over Insecurity, Hardship

About 1,000 Islamic clerics from Northern Nigeria have called on President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his reported ambition to seek re-election in 2027, citing insecurity, economic hardship and other challenges confronting the country.

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.

The conference was organised by the clerics under the umbrella of Ko Da Naka, an organisation which describes itself as committed to promoting good governance and community development, in collaboration with the AFAQ Educational Foundation.

The participants deliberated on issues including insecurity, the economy, migration of skilled professionals, the role of religious scholars in promoting justice and the 2027 general elections.

In the communiqué, the clerics urged the Tinubu administration to take urgent measures to address killings, kidnapping and other security challenges, particularly in the North-West and other affected parts of the country.

They warned that failure to address the security situation could influence their position on the President’s 2027 re-election bid.

“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,” the communiqué stated.

The clerics also criticised some of the Federal Government’s economic policies, including the removal of the fuel subsidy, changes to the naira exchange-rate system, increases in electricity tariffs and tax reforms.

They argued that the policies had contributed to increased hardship among Nigerians and urged the government to review measures they considered detrimental to citizens’ welfare.

“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,” they said.

According to the clerics, it would be inappropriate to re-elect the administration in 2027 if it failed to address what they described as harmful economic policies.

The group also expressed concern over the continued migration of Nigerian professionals, including doctors, teachers and engineers, attributing the trend to unemployment, inadequate facilities, poor working conditions and economic difficulties.

They called for improved salaries, better working conditions and opportunities for professional development to encourage skilled Nigerians living abroad to return to the country.

The clerics further urged Islamic scholars and other religious leaders to remain independent and speak truth to power, irrespective of the political party, ethnicity or religion of those in government.

They advised Nigerians to place national interest above partisan, ethnic and regional considerations when choosing political leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.

The clerics urged voters to assess political candidates based on their experience, integrity, competence and policy proposals, rather than political affiliation.

“Nigerians should not be asked to endure another term of the same policies while families struggle to meet basic needs and the promised relief remains out of reach,” the communiqué stated.

Among those who presented papers at the conference were Dr Abdulmuɗɗalib Ahmad Giɗaɗo, Prof. Muhd Muslim Ibrahim, Sheikh Kabir Bashir Abdulhamid, Dr Aminu Isma’il Sagagi, Dr Najibullah Abdallah Nuhu and Sheikh Abdurrazaq Uba Musa.

Others included Sheikh Musa Muhd Ɗan Kwano, Barrister El-Zubair, Dr Yahuza Getso, Prof. Ibrahim Siraj Adhama, Dr Umar Dokaji and Sheikh Muhd Sani Khamis, also known as Abu Haisam.