Bauchi Mosque Removes Imam Over Alleged Tinubu Re-Election Campaign

A mosque committee in Bauchi metropolis has removed an imam, Dahiru Abubakar, over his alleged use of the mosque to campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Abubakar, who led prayers at a mosque in Madina quarters, was accused of repeatedly promoting Tinubu’s second-term bid during sermons delivered after obligatory prayers.

The imam was reportedly suspended after he repeated the act following the early morning Subhi prayer on Sunday, despite previous warnings from the mosque committee.

Abubakar admitted speaking in support of the President, but maintained that his message was intended to discourage worshippers from blaming Tinubu for Nigeria’s insecurity and economic challenges.

He said his preaching focused on the fear of God, prayer and the need for people to stop blaming political leaders for problems he described as part of an end-time phenomenon.

“I have been preaching to the people to stop castigating President Tinubu for the insecurity and economic challenges. They are prepared to vote for him and give him another mandate in 2027,” he said.

The imam explained that he had cited insecurity in African countries, including Sudan, Chad and Mali, to argue that the challenges facing Nigeria were not unique to the Tinubu administration.

He said the approach did not go down well with the mosque committee.

Confirming his removal, the chairman of the mosque committee, Imam Abubakar Jibrin, said the disagreement went beyond the imam’s support for Tinubu.

Jibrin accused Abubakar of gathering people in front of the mosque and sometimes entering the premises specifically to discuss politics.

He said the committee had repeatedly cautioned the imam against turning the mosque into a political platform, insisting that political activities should take place at party offices rather than places of worship.

According to him, the committee had also rejected Abubakar’s proposal to rename the mosque from Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair to Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Jibrin said the mosque belonged to the community and that its name would remain unchanged despite the imam’s insistence.

“We are not against the candidate of any political party. Our prayer is for Allah to choose the best for the country, be it President Tinubu or any candidate among the presidential candidates that would become a blessing to the country,” he said.

The committee chairman said Abubakar would not be reinstated, adding that anyone wishing to establish a mosque for political activities could build a personal one.

The development highlights the sensitivity surrounding political campaigning in religious spaces as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum.