Imam Dahiru Abubakar Garba of Bauchi State has urged Islamic scholars to encourage Muslims to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election, arguing that religious leaders should participate in politics and guide their followers on electoral choices.
Garba made the call in an exclusive interview with the Religion Journalism Foundation, saying Islamic scholars should use their influence to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
“What my fellow Islamic scholars are supposed to do is to call on their followers to vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
The call comes amid controversy over Garba’s political activities at the mosque where he previously served as imam in Madina Quarters, Bauchi metropolis.
Religion Journalism Foundation has reported that Garba was removed from the position after campaigning for Tinubu among worshippers and proposing that the mosque be renamed after the president. The proposal was rejected by the mosque’s committee.
In the interview, Garba maintained that religious scholars have a role to play in politics, describing political participation as a responsibility that should not be left to politicians alone.
“What I used to tell them is that politics is for religious scholars,” he said.
He also argued that Islamic scholars possess knowledge and perspectives that their followers may not have, saying people should listen to their guidance.
“What a religious leader sees, his follower cannot see. My thinking periodism is not the same as theirs. I know better than them. And they should be able to learn from what I tell them,” he said.
Garba said he continued campaigning for Tinubu after his removal, including at Bauchi Central Market, and maintained that he believed the president deserved another term.
“In Nigeria, no one is doing good works for the poor the way Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing it, and that is why I am supporting him,” he said.
He did not specify the government programmes or interventions on which he based his assessment.
Garba also urged religious scholars to set aside their differences and encourage political participation, saying they should fear God in their public conduct.
