An Islamic cleric, Imam Dahiru Abubakar, has reportedly been relieved of his duties at a mosque in the Madina Quarters of Bauchi metropolis following allegations that he used his preaching sessions to solicit support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Abubakar was accused of repeatedly introducing political messages into his sermons after the five daily congregational prayers, urging worshippers to support Tinubu’s return to office in the 2027 presidential election.
His removal reportedly followed another incident on Sunday, when he allegedly continued the practice after the early morning Subhi prayer, despite previous warnings from the mosque’s management committee.
A source familiar with the development explained that the cleric frequently defended the president before worshippers, arguing that Tinubu should not be held responsible for the country’s security challenges and deserved another opportunity to lead Nigeria.
According to the source, the committee established an investigative panel after the imam allegedly repeated the conduct the previous weekend, eventually leading to the decision to remove him.
Speaking on the matter, Abubakar acknowledged that his sermons had addressed criticism directed at the president over insecurity and the country’s economic difficulties.
The cleric maintained that the challenges confronting Nigerians were part of what he described as an “end times phenomenon,” insisting that divine intervention and fervent prayers were necessary to overcome them.
He explained that his message encouraged worshippers to strengthen their relationship with God rather than continuously blaming political leaders for the nation’s problems.
Abubakar also argued that insecurity was not peculiar to Nigeria, pointing to conflicts and instability in countries such as Sudan, Chad and Mali. He questioned whether Tinubu could be held responsible for similar problems occurring elsewhere across the African continent.
However, the chairman of the mosque committee, Imam Abubakar Jibrin, said the disagreement extended beyond the cleric’s alleged endorsement of the president.
Jibrin explained that Abubakar had repeatedly gathered people outside the mosque to discuss political matters and had, on some occasions, entered the religious premises specifically to engage in political discussions.
He stated that the committee had cautioned the imam several times against turning the mosque into a venue for political activities, citing Islamic teachings that designate mosques primarily for the worship of Allah.
According to Jibrin, although the committee recognises politics as a legitimate process for selecting the country’s leaders, political mobilisation should take place through recognised party structures rather than religious institutions.
The committee chairman further disclosed that Abubakar had proposed renaming the mosque from Masjid Abdullahi Bin Zubbair to Masjid Imam Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a suggestion that members firmly rejected.
Jibrin said the mosque belonged to the community and that its name could not be changed to honour a political figure without the committee’s approval. He confirmed that the existing name would remain unchanged.
He added that the decision to remove Abubakar was final, ruling out any possibility of reinstating him to the position.
The chairman also dismissed suggestions that the committee’s action was motivated by opposition to Tinubu or any other political candidate. He maintained that members were not aligned against any party and would leave the country’s leadership choice to Allah.
Jibrin advised the former imam to establish his own mosque if he wished to pursue his preferred approach, reiterating that the community’s religious centre would not be used for political campaigning or partisan gatherings.
